Lighting Designers
The greatest misunderstanding about
lighting is that it is a purely technical role – the technical aspects are vital, but most important is an awareness of the creative power of light and the difference made to a production by using it effectively.
Despite rarely being noticed by the average audience member until it goes wrong, a
lighting design can make or break a production, and producing it is a fun and creative process. Lighting is a fascinating medium to work with: by combining colour, intensity, angles, timing and even movement, the possibilities are limitless. Some shows will appear similar but each will have its own requirements and subtleties.
A plan which specifies the exact position, orientation and colour of each lantern needs to be developed long before the show
get-in, since time in the venue is limited. The
lighting designer (
LD) starts work early during the production process, combining his own ideas with those of the
director and
set designer to produce a technically feasible
lighting plan. A good
LD will get to know the script and attend as many rehearsals as possible.
It can often be informative to work as a
production electrician before attempting your own
design. This allows you to see how the
design process is organised before giving it a go yourself. Just seeing as many shows as you can is another great way to gain ideas. It’s worth visiting many different venues in Cambridge, as they are all have very different
lighting rigs.
Last edited Tue 5th Feb by Alex Brett
back to designers
Search
