Lighting is the fastest way to change how an audience feels about a subject. Long before dialogue lands, the light has already told them whether to trust, admire or fear what they're seeing.
Three questions before we set a light
- What does the audience need to feel in this beat?
- Which face should the eye go to?
- What are we deliberately hiding?
Contrast is a story choice, not a taste choice
Soft, even lighting says 'this is safe, this is documentary, trust what you see.' Hard, directional light says 'this matters, pay attention, someone is making a point.' We pick per beat, not per project.
"The lighting rig is the second script. Read it before the actors arrive."
Colour that survives the platform
Beautiful colour on a calibrated monitor is worthless if it dies on a mid-range Android in daylight. We grade for the smallest, hottest screen the film will ever land on — then let the calibrated monitor be the bonus, not the target.
