teach me how to light

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
is there anyone/where in L.A. who you can pay to spend a day teaching you how to light. i know walter graff does this, but he's in NY and I'm pretty sure he'd be too expensive.
 
I'm not in LA, but I have seen a bunch of cool ads, in the past for UCLA extension classes on Cinematography. If I was there, I would attend everyone.
 
It does take a while to learn how to light well but I guess you could get the basics down in a day... but no sorry I don't know of any one on that coast... David had a good idea try some of the school.
 
First off, Filmosity is absolutely correct, you can't learn the craft in a day. In a few months you can get a pretty good start, but don't expect much in a single day.

If you are in the LA area, you are probably in the best place in the country to learn. Just find a listing on some place like Craigslist and see who is looking for no pay crew on a no-budget or student project. Let them know your area of interest and that you are willing to help for free. After hanging out on enough sets you will pick up a lot of the terms and can see first hand what works, what doesn't work and why. I have learned more from watching my daughter work on big budget films than by any other method that I can think of.

Now I mostly work on paying gigs, but send me a message and I'll let you know if I hear of something in the area.
 
Excellent advice, KHMUSE. There's too much within the realm of lighting to get in one day. Find a local forum - say like www.atlantafilms.com or image.org here in Atlanta - and start asking questions. Volunteer to PA. Grab a book like "Lighting for Digital Video & Television" by John Jackman. And ask questions.

Good luck!
 
just want the basics of the basics. and josh, that's how i've been lighting my whole life. doesn't seem to work too well though.
 
As a heads up, the UCLA extension DP classes are terrible. The instructor(s) are less then qualified and their attitude is basically one of "I will teach this class to make my cash" and nothing more.
 
I agree with other posters that working for free as a grip or PA on MANY film projects is the best way to learn.

Sure you can take a class and read a book, but that stuff doesn't stick inyour head the way practical experience does. Not to mention that every single set is different, which is what makes lighting so different than any other job. It can't be learned in ONE DAY, or one year for that matter. There are people in this industry been lighting for decades and are still learning, not to mention there are new tools constantly coming out.

If you're near hollywood and want a one day course I can arrange that for you. But I think you're better off buying some lighting books and DVDs and working on free gigs.
 
Get John Jackman's book and also checkout Motion Picture Lighting by Blaine Brown. Get a couple of fresnels, a softbox, stands, some blackwrap, gels and start practicing. Every scene is different and your approach should be motivated by the windows and practicals in the room, the framing and staging of what is in the shot. There are some dvds around, just can't think of the names right now.

Also check out still photography, oil paintings by the masters (go to a museum or get a book with good prints of renoir, degass, davinci), study their work. Don't only look at the light, look at the shadows, the depth of field, the framing, the usage of color. Your job is to paint with light.
 
c.g._eads said:
is there anyone/where in L.A. who you can pay to spend a day teaching you how to light. i know walter graff does this, but he's in NY and I'm pretty sure he'd be too expensive.
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I cannot teach you how to light in one day but I can teach you the basics to help get you started. Contact me privately if you are interested. Our prices are affordable.
 
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