Lighting - Gaffer

Traveling Lights

As an experienced and multiple award-winning DoP with a lot of lighting know-how and equipment and a strong background in advertising and people photography, I am highly qualified as a Gaffer.

Microsoft at Sage, Newcastle

One of my recent bookings as a Gaffer was for a superb 2-day corporate shoot for Microsoft, filmed at the Sage HQ, in Newcastle. The production team, including the DoP and a Lighting Cameraman, flew in from the West Coast.

They needed an experienced local Gaffer to light for both cameramen, and provide; 2 sets of lights, 2 magliners, floppies, flags, and other support equipment.

I was also asked to provide a great crew, Grip, Sound Recordist, and Hair & Makeup Artist (HMUA).

Channel 4 - 2024 Paris Paralympics Opener - Ade Adepitan Drives To Paris

Channel 4 commissioned Whisper, to produce an opener for their coverage of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Their creative team came up with the idea of shooting Ade Adepitan driving from London to Paris.

Richard Gort was the Film Director.

Chris Hyde DOP asked me to be his Gaffer on this busy greenscreen shoot and to supply my lighting equipment.

We filmed the journey in one of Malcolm Ryan's Studios, in Wimbledon.

Slate 1, David Coulthard gives Ade Adepitan the "car" keys for his drive to Paris. David was not present in the studio. We set the eyeline carefully so that after David was composited in, it would work. Then Chris tracked the camera backward, through the vehicle, to reveal our hero vehicle, a classic Citroen 2CV van.

I set Ade's Key light, an LS600D Pro with a 150cm light dome, and then screened the lampstand behind a chromakey cloth, which I lit, and metered, to match the reflected luminance of the cyc., so that when the shot revealed the van, the keying would be as easy as possible, also ensuring there would be no reflections of the silver lampstand in the van's black paint.

We needed a wide variety of shots from both sides of the van and directly in front, so I was kept busy with every shot needing unique lighting. Throughout the shoot, I used the studio's cyc lights and lanterns, with Aputure Light Storm 600D Pros, Aputure LS60Xs, and a Fomex FL1200, all with various modifiers, softboxes and a 10" fresnel.

Inside the van, I installed a Dedolight with a Full CTB correction gel.

There was a huge amount of work to complete in just one day. However, we had an excellent team with a professional and can-do vibe. Everyone worked hard and smart.

Finally, we filmed the opening scene, when Ade gets a call asking him to drive to Paris.

"Are you mad?"

Ade arrived in Paris at 10 pm., Wimbledon time.

And that's a wrap.

Huddersfield Town Football Club - Up The Town

The first assignment I booked via my Sab Network membership was to Gaffer for another American production team, including a DoP and an Operator. They filmed a show about Huddersfield Town Football Club and its new American owner.

Working with 2 cameras, we lit and shot 3 master interviews in office locations and pitchside.

Nutribullet - TV Commercial

Of course, I also work for British crews. Here, Jonathan Young DoP is shooting a food blender commercial.

Jonathan and I have worked together for many years. As one of the country's busiest DoPs he is often on long international assignments, so when he needs a trusty pair of skilled hands to shoot projects for other clients, if I am available, I shoot them for him. And when he needs a 2nd pair of hands, I often get the call.

For this 1 day shoot, Jonathan booked me as his Gaffer and 2nd Camera Operator, making for an unusually efficient and cost-effective shoot.

I lit the farmhouse kitchen while Jonathan was outside shooting GVs and drone shots.

Microsoft at Craneware, Edinburgh

December is typically a quiet month but 18 months after helping Microsoft film at Sage HQ, they were back in the UK and asked me to help them again. The same DOP wanted the same core team as last time. So that was me as Gaffer, and luckily Martin Ellis - Sound Recordist was also available, so I booked him. We took the low road and were soon in Scotland.

This was another 2-day shoot. On day 1, we shot B-roll around the office and the city.

On day 2 we filmed 2 master interviews.

Highs - Short Film

When Mari Yamamura DoP had to shoot a short film, Highs, over 2 nights in London, she asked me to be her Gaffer.

This would involve lighting several exterior and interior night scenes.

For one slate I had to make a bracket to mount one of my wirelessly controllable, battery-powered, bicolour, spotlights, high up on a lampost, to accent the close-up of our hero as he chained his bicycle to the lampost.

Mari did an amazing job, as she always does, and I am delighted to report, her work on Highs earned her a Special Mention, for Best Cinematography 2023 - Unrestricted View Film Festival.

Final Slate

Because of my extensive experience as a DoP and Photographer, I can often anticipate requests and always understand the issues and the subtleties of lighting pretty much any scene or subject.

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