In the world of professional commercial shoots in Los Angeles, getting ready for the job, particularly when it involves lighting and grip, is the main factor that sets good productions apart from great productions. When shooting a national brand campaign or a video for a product launch, or even a corporate video, knowing how to set up your gear properly can save you hours on set and make your talent, clients, and crew happy along the way.
This is a guide to helping you set up your 5 Ton Lighting Package LA from truck down to first shot.
Your gaffer and key grip should have reviewed the shot list and location scouts before the truck has rolled up. Know how the natural light is oriented, the available electrical power sources at the site, and any site limitations (interior load in hours, parking permits, noise ordinances). You should have a walkthrough at least 24 hours prior to the shoot time to plan out cable runs, determine where the generator will be parked and flag anything safety related.
Check all equipment against the creative vision. The 5 Ton Lighting Package LA is a complete system with a wide range of HMIs, LED panels, tungsten fixtures, diffusion frames, C stands, sandbags and a generator, capable of lighting most commercial shows without the extra cost of a larger package.
Once the truck has arrived on site, the first step will be a comprehensive inventory check. With the help of your best boy, walk the truck with your best boy grip, pulling the gear in a systematic manner and cross checking with the rental house manifest. Never skip this step because the earlier that a cable or baby pin is missed, the more time it will add up later in the day.
Group equipment together: Lighting fixtures, grip equipment, expendables in easily accessed bin or basket, power distribution in own staging area. This physical organization can significantly reduce time to setup, and makes it simple to find the item in the middle of the shoot.
Keep the generator at a safe distance away from the set, preferably downwind and away enough so that it is not heard by set. Feed wires to distro boxes and clearly label each circuit. When you plug something into it, make sure that you don't exceed your distro wattage.
Most commercial packages in LA are based on a 400A or larger generator. When indoors and tied to house power, consult a qualified electrician before connecting the power supply. Don't assume house power is capable of providing a full commercial lighting load.
Begin with your key light. Place it on the DP's established layout (usually a large soft source for commercial use: 4x4 or 6x6 bounce layout, or a large LED panel with diffusion). Lock key off before adding fill, backlight or practicals.
Work out from key:
Every fixture needs to be securely mounted, sandbags need to be placed on any stand held by a C stand arm and cables need to be neatly dressed around the set to prevent tripping. LA productions are performed with the utmost safety precautions and a clean set is a safe set.