Backup lights in small lighting packages

R

rob norton

Veteran
As DPs, do you look to see if a lighting package contains backup fixtures? I know certain lights are workhorses in the industry and provide large peace of mind but how much do you plan for error? If packages contain pairs of (smaller) lights - is that good enough?

For argument's sake, I'm talking about van-sized vehicles, not larger lighting trucks.

Thanks!
 
I don't generally provide backup fixtures on my van, but I carry extra lamps for all of my ride along lights except for LED's. The problem being limited space. I currently carry a mix of Tungsten, Fluorescent, LED and HMI on my van. But if I spec a job ahead of time I will load the lighting kit as needed.
 
I mostly light interviews and small room setups and own LED, fluoro and tungsten kits and good amount of grip gear too. I rarely have the luxury of enough room in my vehicle and labor to bring along too much in the way of backup lights. Knock on wood, I have rarely had a light go down, although it has happened once or twice over the years. If one light goes down in my interview kit, I could still make it work since i usually light with 4-6 instruments. Travel kit gets sketchier, I usually travel with a four light kit for travel and if one goes down, it would be looking for practical or window light to keep the shoot going. If I had a grip van, even a small one, I would carry it all with me to every shoot but it's just not practical based upon my work and budgets.
 
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Good answers and thanks for the response guys. But I'm after thoughts as DPs looking to source someone else's small lighting package..
 
Redheads are the lights I have that Go down - having six I'd rarely set more than five - it's then easy to swap out pronto

my other lights are more resilient and less plentiful so no backup - but I do carry globes/tubes for my other fixtures
 
I have a friend who is the press junket king in LA. He and the company he shoots for own a ridiculous amount of gear. I have borrowed and rented a ton of small Arri fresnels from him before for a big shoot I did where I had to light up a whole building interior shot with six cameras. I was very proud of my lighting plan and setup, we had a group of people ride up in a freight elevator, get out, walk to a table to sit down and play poker, all in one take with the six camras. Lit that setup with 36 small lights, nothing over a 1k. Turned out beautifully.
 
Sounds great, any BTS photos or link to the end result??

Speaking of press junkets, I used to do work as a PA on shoots with Mad Dog Video in L.A., they mostly shot EPK - along with lots and lots of interviews with celebs in hotel rooms!
 
rob norton said:
Good answers and thanks for the response guys. But I'm after thoughts as DPs looking to source someone else's small lighting package..
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I don't think the thought of a light going down during a job & what contingency should be in place is (or should be) something that the DP really concerns him/herself with. Sure, if something breaks someone has to deal with it, but is it not up to the gaffer to take care of that? How small of a package are you talking about?

I guess the next thought that comes to mind is, if you're worried about a light from someone else's package going down, you should certainly be careful about who you get that gear from. Not everyone who owns lights is so good at maintaining them...

As long as you do a thorough checkout and have a proficient crew, pairs of lights are probably fine if you don't think you'll be needing more than two of a certain unit for any given setup.
 
Moseph said:
I don't think the thought of a light going down during a job & what contingency should be in place is (or should be) something that the DP really concerns him/herself with. Sure, if something breaks someone has to deal with it, but is it not up to the gaffer to take care of that? How small of a package are you talking about?

I guess the next thought that comes to mind is, if you're worried about a light from someone else's package going down, you should certainly be careful about who you get that gear from. Not everyone who owns lights is so good at maintaining them...

As long as you do a thorough checkout and have a proficient crew, pairs of lights are probably fine if you don't think you'll be needing more than two of a certain unit for any given setup.
Click to expand...

Without worrying about anything (tungsten, LED, fluro, grip etc.) but HMIs, if a small package is:
-1x 2.5k HMI
-2x 1.2k HMI
-2x 575 HMI
then is that single 2.5 ever a concern? Real question: as someone possibly pushing a small lighting package on the side, should I be hiring a second 2.5 to be covered or am I being paranoid?
 
Maybe a spare head cable since those are the first parts of a system to usually go bad, but they almost always come with 2 anyway. I would only worry if it was a multi week long job, of if you were in a remote location with no nearby rental houses. If it works at the rental house when you check it out, as long as it doesn't fall off a shelf in a truck, odds are it'll work on set.

Something to keep in mind if you have a real concern is that there are power gems ballasts that can run both a 1.2k and a 2.5k head (as well as 1.8 and 4k).
 
rob norton said:
Without worrying about anything (tungsten, LED, fluro, grip etc.) but HMIs, if a small package is:
-1x 2.5k HMI
-2x 1.2k HMI
-2x 575 HMI
then is that single 2.5 ever a concern? Real question: as someone possibly pushing a small lighting package on the side, should I be hiring a second 2.5 to be covered or am I being paranoid?
Click to expand...

If your competition is other grip houses that have backup lights, then yes, because that is what they do.

you'd better be sure you have people who will rent from you though as that is an expensive proposition.

Also, most grip houses have a assistant available to run the replacement put to set at a minutes notice should something happen.
 
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