Set Lighting

Learn about movie lighting for film and video productions

If you’re drawn to moviemaking but want to focus your efforts behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera, a career as a lighting technician may be right for you. Movie lighting professionals work in close coordination with the cinematographer to create mood-enhancing lighting that captures the look and feel the director is going for while helping actors and actresses look their best.

The Basics of Film Lighting

At its most basic, set lighting usually incorporates what’s known as a three-point lighting setup. This film and video lighting technique uses a trio of lights to illuminate the action on screen, including:

  • The key light. A key light is the main element of a film lighting setup, and it is usually placed at the side and oriented at an angle to cast bright light on one side of the frame while leaving shadow and darker space to be filled in by the other lights.
  • The fill light. This set light is used to fill in the shadowy areas left by the angled placement of the key light. It’s normally softer than the key light and is placed across from it and oriented at the same angle to create consistency within the frame.
  • The back light. Back lights are used to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on the two-dimensional screen; they shine in the back portions of the frame and are also used to create definition and highlights in the subject.

Becoming a Set Lighting Technician

While you don’t necessarily need formal training from a film school to become a lighting technician, you will need a thorough familiarity with the different types of lights used in film and video productions and a sound understanding of set safety and the properties of electricity. If you opt to just dive right in rather than go to film school, volunteering to work as a production assistant is a good way to gain on-set experience, make industry connections and learn the basics of lighting and lighting equipment.

That said, formal education is a shortcut to your career path. In film school, you’ll learn everything you need to know about movie lights from experienced professionals who can answer all your questions and give you hands-on instruction and experience. Another benefit of attending film school is that you’ll meet a lot of like-minded people, enhancing your networking and giving you a leg up in a very competitive industry.