Gaffing Do’s and Don’ts: Lighting Basics for Film

Lighting is one of the most foundational elements of filmmaking, but unless you are pursuing the career, not many people know the fundamentals of gaffing: it is more than just setting up lights on set. You have to be aware of safety factors, have knowledge of lighting theories, and complete proper pre-production work in order to properly convey your scene. There are leadership and communication skills involved in communicating a vision for a scene’s lighting with your cinematographer, grips, and director. 

What is a Gaffer?

A gaffer is the person in charge of the lighting and electrical department. Their role on set includes running the team of lighting technicians and working closely with the director of photography in order to convey the film’s visual style through lighting. Additionally, the gaffer is in charge of the lighting budget, ensuring that there is proper equipment and power supplies to light the film. With the help of a team of grips and lighting technicians, they position lighting on set and control it during the shoot. They are also in charge of maintaining lighting continuity alongside the script supervisor. 

Lighting technicians are responsible for setting up all of the electrical equipment on set. The grip crew is in charge of “rigging,” which is the process of setting up non-electrical equipment for gaffers and camera operators. The gaffer will work most closely with the key grip, who coordinates all of the rigging needs on set. Equipment set up by grips includes lighting rigs or c-stands. 

Basics of Lighting – Setup and Elements

It is important for gaffers to understand the fundamental basics of lighting for film. Once these basics are mastered, they can be manipulated in order to create more interesting or dynamic scenes. Additionally, these lighting basics are beneficial for all filmmakers to know and understand. 

The most basic principle of lighting for film is three-point lighting, referring to a lighting setup where a key light, fill light, and back light are set up to properly display the depth and evenly light a subject’s face. The key light refers to your primary lighting point, and will illuminate the subject the most. The fill light is placed opposite the key light in the foreground. It is typically powered to be about half as strong as the key light. The back light is placed behind the subject, and adds depth to the scene between the foreground and background. 

Three point lighting creates a base for all film lighting. Taking away the fill light, for example, creates a more dramatic effect with hard shadows. This would be referred to as low key lighting, when shadows are hard lines with a minimum amount of whites or midtones. High key lighting has a strong fill light, with subjects looking evenly and brightly lit. Even if you are not a part of the lighting and electrical department, understanding the language of lighting elements will make you a stronger communicator on set.

Lights will also have temperatures, which impact the warmth or coolness of the light’s color. Different types of lights have access to different color temperatures or wavelengths. These temperatures are measured in the unit Kelvins, and different types of lights include Tungsten, H.M.I., fluorescent, and L.E.D. Each light has a unique Kelvin range, with L.E.D.s having the widest range, from 2200K to beyond 10,000K. Another technical aspect to keep in mind while gaffing is the efficiency of the light. Some lights, like Tungstens, can overheat very quickly, whereas L.E.D.s can last for hours without burning up. Considering the amount of electricity required for each light on set is another aspect of a gaffer’s job. 

There are a few color temperatures that every gaffer should know, as they have been deemed basic starting points for different types of light. Indoor lighting will typically be set at 3200K, and traditional outdoor lighting is set at 5600K. The temperature of 5600K mimics “daylight white,” which reflects bright sunlight and is the same color temperature that you would see on a sunny day. Gels are a useful tool for controlling light color as well, and come in a variety of hues and shades. Another element of light is its softness, and this can influence the harshness of the shadows. Diffusers can be used to control the harshness of the light sources. 

Lighting Safety

Lighting equipment can be one of the most dangerous parts of the video production process. There are steps that every gaffer, grip, and lighting electrician should take to ensure safety on set. Dressing your cables is a great way to promote safety on set, securing them on light stands and the floor to prevent trip hazards. This is typically done with carpet runners or rugs placed over loose caples on the ground, and gaff tape being used to stick cables to lighting stands.

Lights can also get extremely hot very quickly, which is why it’s important having an understanding of which lights you are using, and how much they can take before overheating. Lighting setup, including opening barn doors, adding gels, and placing the general height and direction of the light should happen before turning them on. Once the lights are on, any interaction with the light should happen with welder’s gloves or an equivalent. Allow lights to cool down fully before putting them away. 

Sandbags and safety chains are two fairly inexpensive ways to prevent lights from crashing on your set. When setting up lights, make sure that sandbags are placed on the legs to prevent the light from falling. Additionally, if setting up lights on a grid in a studio, be sure to fasten safety cables or chains to them. When hanging lights, make sure that ladders are placed behind the light and away from the talent. 

Lights are one of the most important aspects of a film set, and understanding the fundamentals of lighting from a technical, artistic, and safety standpoint is beneficial to every role on set. When gaffing, be sure to take your time and never sacrifice safety for efficiency. Lights are powerful and dangerous tools on set, but when used properly, can bring so much life and energy to a production. Intentional lighting is an amazing tool for filmmakers, so even if gaffing is not your passion, being able to communicate with your lighting and electrical department is a critical filmmaking skill. 

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