Tag: television production lighting companies

How To Creating Effective Lighting For Live Television

Posted on by J3551CA

There are very few elements of live television that have as profound an effect as lighting does.  Get it right, and you are adding a whole new dimension to the action taking place in front of the camera, get it wrong and everything is ruined.

Great lighting enhances the mood, focuses the viewer’s attention, and enables the audience to clearly see what the director wants them to see. It also controls the quality, color temperature, and intensity of the broadcast image, making it one of the most powerful elements of any television broadcast.

To ensure that live television lighting is on point and ready to handle anything that happens on set, the lighting needs to be carefully planned and executed just so.

Here are some of the ways in which a highly skilled Lighting Director and his team ensure that live television lighting really works.

Finding The Right Type Of Lighting

Studio lighting is not actually much brighter than the lamps and pendants you would find in your own home.  It is, however,  light years apart when it comes to quality.  Quartz lamps, Fresnel lenses, and LED lights are the most common types of light found in a studio environment or on an outside broadcast.

Quartz lenses are the most traditional type of lighting used in production work, and while they produce perfect illumination, they can also get very hot and use a lot of electricity.  LED lights, however, are a more recent addition to every Lighting Directors powerful inventory, and work just as well, but without the high temperatures and extreme power usage

The Use Of Spotlights

Fresnel lenses are used to convert a small amount of bright light on to one particular area of the set.  They can be remotely controlled to alter the direction and the intensity of the beam.  Used to focus the attention of the viewer on one area of the picture, spotlights can lead the viewing experience away from other events happening in front of the camera.

Eliminating Shadows

Bright lights create shadows that can completely wipe out areas of the set.  The trick to creating effective lighting is to find a way to reduce these shadows.  Lighting Directors use a technique called “diffusion” to diminish light that may otherwise be too bright and overpowering on the set. Diffusion is created by shading the light with a translucent or opaque fabric, made from heat-resistant material that won’t melt or catch fire due to long exposure and close proximity to powerful studio lighting.

Reflecting The Light

A “scoop” is a tool that is used to reflect the light. Reflected lights create a soft glow that casts its light over a general area.  Often used for background and standard set lights, these concave pieces can also be used with colored lenses and filters to create more subtle and flattering lighting effects.

Measuring The Light

Lighting meters are used to ensure that all of those lights and accessories don’t overwhelm the camera equipment of the action taking place.  Light meters assess the light intensity in one particular area that is on-camera so that the light technicians can make changes were necessary.

When your subject is the focal point of your live broadcast, they need to ensure the foreground lights are brighter than the background lights.  Light metering tells the operators how the lights are affecting the overall appearance on camera.

Controlling The Light

 Using remote DMX consoles, highly skilled lighting technicians can change the mood and look of the action in front of the camera with just the click of a button.  On a film set, the lighting team will usually have a lighting plan to follow, in live TV, however, situations arise that cannot be pre-planned.

Frank Gatto & Associates provide lighting solutions for live television events for some of the biggest names in the industry, including HBO, ABC, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Telemundo, and Univision.

If you would like to find out more about the services we provide, call us today at 561-368-0101.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

How To Light A Film Set Like A Pro

Posted on by J3551CA

If you have a yearning to produce a Hollywood blockbuster or your televisual debut, you may not even have thought about how best to light your set.  With your script written, actors on standby and cameras ready to roll, you may think you are ready for action.  But, in reality, lighting is an integral part of any film or television production, and one that is sadly overlooked by those that are new to the industry.

Whilst we don’t want to stifle your creativity, no production will be worth the paper it is written on if you can’t illuminate the set sufficiently to add atmosphere or simply allow you’re on-screen action to be adequately seen

If you are serious about your first film you will need to hire lighting professionals, but as a quick guide, here are the kind of lighting basics that you will need to consider:

Key Light

This will be the primary light of the scene and will offer the most intense and direct light on set. It will be used to illuminate the main focus of the scene, whether that is a subject or actor.  It will be the primary light in a three-point lighting set up and can be used to create a dramatic mood if it is placed to the side or back of an actor.

Fill Light

The fill light is used to illuminate the shadows created by the key light.  Fill lights are easy to create and can be as simple as a reflector that bounces the light back up onto your subject.

Back Light

A back light hits an actor or object from behind and is usually placed higher than the object it is lighting, giving the scene more shape and depth.

The key light, fill light, and backlight all come together to make up a three-point lighting setup.

Sidelight

A sidelight comes from the side parallel to the actor and is used for creating dramatic moods and revealing texture.This type of lighting uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to light three-dimensional forms

Practical Light

These lights don’t light up the set but are actual working lights within the scene itself. It could be a lamp, a TV or even police lights in an action scene.  These increase the depth of the scene and are usually dimmer that stage lights to prevent glare.

Bounce Light

A bounce light is a light that has been reflected using a specially designed piece of equipment, or by simply facing a light towards a wall or ceiling.  Bounce lights are very flexible and you can create a key, fill, backlight, and even illuminate objects in the background simply by using reflective material.

Whatever kind of lighting you need for your filming occasion, Frank Gatto & Associates can provide state of the art lighting equipment for events of all kinds.  We are one of the biggest in the business, but not so small that we don’t remember what it feels like when you are first starting out.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Make Your Event Your Biggest And Brightest Yet

Posted on by J3551CA

The way in which lighting is used in event planning can completely change the mood and atmosphere of any occasion.  Get it wrong and your venue could look dark and unwelcoming, get it right and it could just be your biggest and brightest yet.

From small scale parties to huge corporate occasions, experienced lighting experts will be able to pull together a series of expert lighting hacks that will completely enhance the look and feel of your event.

Here at Frank Gatto & Associates, we have many years experience of providing the perfect lighting solutions for every kind of event.  We painstakingly plan every aspect of our client’s lighting requirements in advance to ensure that we always provide the best lighting experience possible.

We also understand that you don’t always need big, expensive rigging to create unique or amazing effects, our creativity and imagination goes a long way to help transform your event or venue with lighting.  We work with a huge variety of lighting options and know all the best ways to make your event shine.  Here are just a few ways we can help with your event lighting:

  1. Plan Your Lighting Solutions

A team of lighting professionals will work in collaboration with you to establish the concept for your event, and how best to provide lighting that enhances the atmosphere and mood of the venue.  We will undertake a site visit and organize logistics with the venue to ensure a cohesive approach to your event lighting.

  1. Provide Bespoke Solutions

Because lighting is an integral part of event planning, a professional lighting company will be able to identify the most cost-effective ways to add style and grandeur to any space.  With a full-color spectrum at our disposal, we can provide lighting that is as subtle or bold as you need it to be.  By utilizing different styles we of lighting we can ensure that your event really is as amazing as you want it to be.  Whether you need festoon and fairy lights to create a calm romantic atmosphere or brightly colored uplighter that dance along with the beat, only a professional lighting company can provide you with lighting that really rocks!

  1. State Of The Art Lighting

A professional lighting company like us will have access to some of the best lighting in the industry  From huge spotlights to LED lighting and everything in between, we will provide you with state of the art lighting that you may not be able to access or afford on your own.

Whatever type of event you are organizing, make sure that you don’t leave your lighting to chance.  From television studios to huge outdoor sporting events, Frank Gatto & Associates have provided awe-inspiring lighting for a huge variety of events on a national and international scale.

So you can be sure that whatever you need to light up your event, we’ve got it covered.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.

            

Use Light To Create The Perfect Ambiance

Posted on by J3551CA

Whether you are at home, in the office or out on the tiles, the right lighting adds ambiance to any atmosphere.  A nightclub would be boring without pulsing strobe lights, and your bedroom would feel cold and empty without soft lighting on your nightstand.

The right lighting can enhance the look and feel of any space.  In this blog, we look at how to make every room perfect using lighting tips and tricks from us, the experts in event lighting.   Light up your home with a complete makeover or invest in a few extra lamps to add interest.

Living Areas

Spaces that are multipurpose, like lounge rooms or reception areas, often serve different purposes throughout the day.  A bright, spacious lounge works well during the daylight hours but can be transformed with soft, ambient lighting come nightfall.

A successful lighting design combines a number of light sources at different levels, that can be used at different times of the day or night.  A chandelier makes a stunning focal point and can be used when you need a high level of illuminations, whereas side lamps add a subtle and cozy feel for long dark evenings.

Kitchens

Most kitchens benefit from a higher level of lighting when they are in use.  Low energy spotlights are perfect for modern kitchens, and additional under counter lighting or an illuminated extractor hood help you to see when you are cooking.  If you want to add a “wow” factor to your kitchen, invest in a feature light to complement your low-level lighting.  A chandelier, a drum shade or a contemporary pendant can become an amazing centerpiece for the heart of your home.

Bedrooms

Soft lighting creates a relaxing and serene ambiance, helping to ease you into a great nights sleep.  That said, there may be times when you want your bedroom well lit to assist so you can see everything in better detail.  Wardrobe lighting, dresser lighting and a selection of side lamps allow you to adjust the level of lighting you need at any time. If you read in bed, your reading lamp should be powerful enough to enable you to read comfortably without having to squint. Soft lighting is perfect for bedtime, but no light is better for sleeping.  Whatever kind of bedroom lighting you choose, be sure to switch them all off when your head finally hits the pillow.

Office Spaces

If you work in a big office, you may not be able to avoid the cold, hard fluorescent bulbs overhead.  But if you have a choice or work from home, try and create a lighting environment that is not harsh, but also not too dim.  Computers emit their own distinctive light, and in order for you to be able to work without straining your eyes, you need to combat the glow. Natural daylight is the very best lighting for an office environment, but if you have small windows or need to work at night, find a lamp or bulb that gives off a natural level of light.

Bathrooms

You may think that you don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to bathroom lighting.  Sure enough, you do need to make sure that the lights you fit can withstand steam, damp and heat,  but you can still completely change the feel of a bathroom with clever lighting.  Candles around the tub is a relaxing and romantic gesture, but not always practical.

Wall mounted sconces, vanity lighting and shower lighting can all add interest to your bathroom, and using frosted or white bulbs can help to reduce glare. Incandescent lighting is always best in the bathroom, as it gives a soft, warm daylight glow.

Frank Gatto & Associates, Inc. are specialists in lighting for television events of all kinds.  If you have an event that needs expert lighting, please call us today to see how we can help.

Phone: 561-368-0101

Email: frank@frankgattolighting.com 

We can be found on Social Media at the following links.