Lighting
professionals
The lighting designer
Lighting is used to affect the audience's senses and evoke their emotions.
The lighting designer is familiar with the various types of lighting
instruments and their uses. In consultation with the director and
the scenic designer, and after
watching sufficient rehearsals,
the LD is responsible for providing an Instrument
Schedule and a Light
Plot. The Schedule is a list of all required materials, including
color gel, gobos, color
wheels, barndoors and
other accessories. The light plot is typically a plan
view of the theatre in which
the performance will take place, with every luminaire marked. This
typically includes approximate focus (the direction it should be
pointing), a reference number, any accessories required, and the specifics
(or channel number) of
its connection to the dimmer system
or lighting control console.
A lighting designer must be accustomed to working around the demands of
the director or head planner. Practical experience is
required to know the effective use of different lighting instruments and color in
creating a design. Many designers start their careers as lighting
technicians in theatres or amateur theatre groups. Often, this is followed
by training in one of the many vocational colleges
or universities around
the world that offer theatre courses. Many jobs in larger venues and
productions require a degree from avocational school or
college in theatrical lighting, or at least a bachelor’s degree.