4  The lighting team

Television is made up of pictures and sound. Pictures come from cameras. Cameras need light to see. Whilst on location there is often plenty of light around ‘accidentally’, from ambient daylight, room lights etc., in the totally controlled environment of a studio the light has to be provided for the cameras. This is the job of the lighting team.

The lighting team consists of a Lighting Director, Lighting Operator and Sparks led by a Gaffer. Often in small studios this is all done by one person. Sometimes, particularly on location video or film shoots, the role is combined with camera operator to become Lighting Camera Operator.

If we look at the full team in studio the Lighting Director is the person with overall responsibility ...

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