Lighting Designer: Daily Activities

Lighting Designer: Daily Activities

Understanding the Production

• Reading through scripts to understand the lighting needs for each scene, with focus on mood, setting, time, and tone.
• Meeting with directors and set designers to discuss their visions and providing input on how lighting can enhance the production.

Conceptualisation and Planning

• Generating ideas and drafting light plots, a tool detailing the placement of all lights for a production.
• Determining the type and colour of each light needed for the scenes.

Implementing the Lighting Design

• Supervising the positioning, hanging, and focusing of the lights per the light plot.
• Attending rehearsals to watch lighting effects and make necessary adjustment.
• Programming and operating lighting control consoles to create cues, where separate lighting states are stored.
• Timing the transition between cues to match the pace and feel of the production.

Maintenance and Adaptability

• Maintaining and repairing lighting equipment to ensure optimal performance for the production.
• Adapting to changes in the production that may influence the lighting design, requiring flexibility and swift decision-making.

Safety and Post-Production Clean Up

• Ensuring the lighting meets health and safety standards for both audience and performers.
• Post-production, disassembling the lighting setup and correctly storing equipment.