Lighting Flashcards
Front of House Lights.
> Often the primary lighting source.
Ensure that actors are well lit and facial expressions are clear.
Set at 45 degrees so no shadows are created.
Side Lights
> Useful if a piece contains a lot of physicality.
> Can highlight the bodies of actors, as well as the sides of their faces.
Lighting from Below
Can project a shadow that looms above the actors faces, creating an unnatural effect.
Lighting from Behind
> Can produce a halo of light and separate the actors from the background.
Creates atmosphere.
Lighting Overlaps
> When one light is brought up as another is faded.
> Useful as a scene transition.
Top Fades
> When a new lighting cue is brought in before the last one has faded out.
Bottom Fades
> When the existing lights are taken down to blackout before the new cue is brought in.
Effect of Abrupt Lighting Change Blackout- Stark
> Catch the audience’s attention.
> Make the audience feel uncomfortable.
Effect of Abrupt Lighting Change Stark- Blackout
Creates tension.
PC Focus Spot
> Provides a smooth beam of light with little spilling out.
Size and shape of the beam can be altered (uses a barndoor).
Cannot change the quality of the beam.
Provides a soft beam with a soft edge.
Fresnel Spotlights
> Provides a soft light with a less-defined edge.
Cast softer shadows.
Not as precise as the PC Spot.
Can use a barndoor to change the size and shape.
Profile Spots
> Able to change size and shape of the beam without a barndoor.
Can project an image by inserting a gobo.
Lens moves so it is possible to control the beam size and quality.
Less scattered light than the Fresnel.
Follow Spots
Same as profile spots but are able to pan and tilt.
Barndoor
A tool that can be inserted into a spotlight to change the beam size.
Floods
> Provide a general wash of light over the stage.
Can tilt and pan.
Cannot adjust its size and shape.
