I have a paper to write and I wanted some info on the differences between theatrical lighting (for theater shows) and lighting for films. I need to include online sources. Please let me know if you know of any good information on the internet about the differences.
Thanks!
Just to touch on some differences
- As others have stated, movies tend to use a ton of temporary and
portable power, as the electrical department may well be providing electricity to every user on the set -
catering, makeup, construction and painters, all before the shooting crew arrives at the location. I vividly recall seeing the electrics staging location for Spiderman I, when it shot in NYC, at the Nat'l Guard armory in Brooklyn, a 360x 190ft interior space with 4/0
feeder cable stacks, all about 3-4ft high, filling the armory. That's a whole lot of
feeder cable.
- Theaters, as stated prior, also uses a lot of
power, it's just part of the building infrastructure, so is out of sight, out of mind.
- Film is a lot of "as you go" lighting, I.E., the
gaffer and the electricians, in consultation with the Director of Photography, discuss how a scene should be lit, the
Gaff and the Elec's rig the gear, often limited to
ground based stands and they light away. Rarely is anything on a
dimmer, as dimming changes the
color temperature of
incandescent lamps. Lot's of fresnels,
HMI's and open faced gear is used, soft lights, chinese lanterns,
etc...
Intensity changes are made with metal netting (scims) that reduces
intensity without changing
color temperature. After the scene is shot, all is struck and you move on to the next scene, with a different rig and equipment setup.
- Theater is a lot of rig in
advance from a
plot prepared from a
Lighting Designer, who has gone to rehearsals, consulted with the Scenic and Costume designers, as well as getting direction from the Director. The LD then prepares the
plot, arranges rental of gear, gets all delivered to the theater (if renting) where it is rigged. Then a plotting session is run, levels are set on a
console controlling dimmers and movers, scrollers,
etc... rehearsals are run,
etc... with a
stage manager calling cues to a
console operator. Works for legit theater, musicals, opera.
- Film and TV lighting is a slave to the needs of the cameras and is less about providing for a "concept" that has a total
image composition. The requirements of the film and/or TV cameras, dictate certain lighting levels be maintained, as well as appropriate
color temperature of the lighting sources, so the CAMERA can capture the
image, and with choices made for camera usage (camera movement,
lens choices, angle of shot, duration,
etc..) and subsequent editing, allow for for a mood to be established on-screen.
- Theater has a live audience that sees everything, so it's up to the designers to establish a "Concept" of the location, time, mood,
etc... as (a) complete composite
image(s) including changing of scenic and costume elements, sound effects, as well as lighting cues that changes what the audience thinks is the time and location and keys the audience attention to particular area's on the
stage, all things a close-up on a camera does as directors choice, as example.
Hope this helps.
Steve B.