Film & Video Lighting Course

Lesson 1 • Physics of Light Behavior

Covers wavelength, reflection, refraction, and diffusion as they apply to film sets. Establishes the vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Colour Temperature and White Balance

Explains the Kelvin scale and how mixed sources create colour casts. Students learn to identify and correct colour temperature on set.

Lesson 3 • Measuring and Quantifying Light

Introduces incident and reflective light measurement tools and units. Accurate measurement underpins every exposure decision made on set.

Lesson 1 • Light Modifiers and Control Accessories

Introduces softboxes, umbrellas, grids, flags, and diffusion frames. Each modifier changes the quality, direction, or spread of light from a fixture.

Lesson 2 • Grip Equipment and Rigging Basics

Covers C-stands, baby pins, speed rails, and overhead frames used to position lights safely. Proper rigging prevents accidents and speeds up setup.

Lesson 3 • Tungsten and HMI Fixtures

Covers Fresnel, open-face, and PAR fixtures alongside HMI technology. Students understand output, colour temperature, and power requirements for each.

Lesson 4 • Power Distribution on Set

Explains distro boxes, circuit loading, and generator hookups for location and stage work. Students calculate safe loads to avoid tripped breakers or fires.

Lesson 1 • Exposure Tools and Monitoring

Covers histograms, false colour, zebras, and waveforms as on-set exposure guides. Accurate monitoring prevents unrecoverable over- or underexposure.

Lesson 2 • Matching Exposure Across Shots

Addresses continuity of exposure between setups, angles, and lighting conditions. Consistent exposure is essential for seamless editing in post-production.

Lesson 3 • Log and RAW Capture Considerations

Introduces log gamma curves and RAW recording as tools for preserving dynamic range. Students learn to expose log footage correctly using exposure indices.

Lesson 1 • Interview and Talking-Head Setups

Applies three-point principles to single-camera interview configurations for documentary and corporate work. Efficiency and repeatability are prioritised for fast-turnaround productions.

Lesson 2 • Back Light and Separation

Covers hair lights, rim lights, and kickers used to separate subjects from backgrounds. Separation adds depth and prevents subjects from merging with dark backgrounds.

Lesson 3 • Key Light Placement and Quality

Defines the key light's role as the primary motivating source and explores angle, height, and quality choices. Placement decisions shape the mood and dimensionality of the subject.

Lesson 4 • Background Lighting Techniques

Addresses lighting the background independently to create depth and context. Background exposure relative to subject exposure controls visual hierarchy.

Lesson 1 • Window Light for Interiors

Teaches how to use, modify, and supplement window light for interior scenes. Window light is the most common available source in documentary and low-budget work.

Lesson 2 • Practical Lights as Key Sources

Covers using lamps, candles, screens, and other in-scene practicals as primary or motivating sources. Practicals add realism and reduce the need for additional fixtures.

Lesson 3 • Mixing Natural and Artificial Light

Addresses balancing daylight-balanced and tungsten sources within the same frame. Students use gels and filtration to unify mixed-source scenes.

Lesson 1 • Lighting for Genre and Mood

Explores how contrast, colour, and direction signal genre conventions such as noir, horror, and romance. Students match lighting choices to tonal and emotional story goals.

Lesson 2 • Lighting Continuity Across Coverage

Addresses maintaining consistent light direction, quality, and intensity across multiple camera angles. Continuity errors in lighting break the viewer's immersion.

Lesson 3 • Day Exterior and Night Exterior Scenes

Covers controlling and supplementing natural light for day exteriors and creating convincing night exteriors. Students manage large-scale setups with HMIs and generators.

Lesson 4 • Interior Scene Lighting Workflow

Guides students through a complete interior scene from prep to wrap, including pre-light and shooting day protocols. Workflow efficiency directly impacts budget and schedule.

Lesson 1 • High-Speed and Slow-Motion Lighting

Addresses the increased light output required for high-frame-rate capture and flicker-free operation. Students calculate exposure and select flicker-free fixtures for slow-motion work.

Lesson 2 • Lighting for Skin Tones and Diversity

Examines how different skin tones respond to light and how to expose and light all subjects equitably. Students adjust ratios, colour temperature, and fill to flatter every complexion.

Lesson 3 • Green Screen and Controlled Studio Lighting

Covers even illumination of chroma key surfaces and separating subjects from the screen. Proper green screen lighting is essential for clean visual effects compositing.

Lesson 4 • Practical Effects and Specialty Lighting

Explores fire, lightning, police strobes, TV flicker, and other practical effects lighting. Each effect requires specific fixtures, control, and safety protocols.

Lesson 1 • Equipment Lists and Budgeting

Guides students through building rental lists, comparing vendor quotes, and managing a lighting budget. Budget discipline is a core professional competency for gaffers and DPs.

Lesson 2 • Script Breakdown for Lighting

Teaches systematic script analysis to identify every lighting requirement by scene. A thorough breakdown prevents surprises and drives accurate equipment lists.

Lesson 3 • On-Set Execution and Problem Solving

Covers adapting lighting plans to real-world constraints such as location changes and time pressure. Rapid problem-solving separates professional gaffers from beginners.

Lesson 4 • Creating Lighting Plans and Diagrams

Covers drafting top-down lighting diagrams using standard symbols and notation. Clear diagrams communicate intent to the entire crew before shooting begins.