Key terms and concepts

• Dimmers

• Lighting desk

• Lighting equipment and accessories

• Lighting plan

• Lighting systems

• Lights

• Patch system

• Power loadings

A basic understanding of a range of lighting and lighting control system options

•  Different entertainment industry contexts 

- live performance 

- theatre

- events

- multi-media presentations

• Different venue types

- indoor

- outdoor

Knowledge of possible career pathways in lighting and roles and responsibilities of a range of lighting personnel

 • Lighting designer 

• Lighting operator

• Follow spot operator

• Lighting technician

• Production electrician

A basic understanding of theories

• The principles of

- light theory 

- subtractive and additive colour mixing

• Electrical theory 

- watts

- amps

- kilowatts

A basic understanding of the effect of colour

• Colour on objects

• Colour on mood

Positioning of lights to achieve different:

• Effect

• Mood

General features and purpose of a range of lighting equipment

• Patch panels

• Dimmers

• Floods

• Par luminaires

 • Cyc lights

• Fresnel luminaires

• PC luminaires 

• Profiles

• Ellipsoidals

• Automated lights

• Strobes

• Follow spots 

Lighting plans

• Universal lighting symbols

• Scale

• Notation conventions

• Elevation

• Sight lines

• Section/side view

An awareness of other documentation in production plans

• Lighting schedules

• Colour call sheets

• Event sheet

• Cue sheet

• Prompt copy

• Running sheet

• Script

• Libretto

The importance of requirements

• Confirming work requirements

• Following supervisor’s instructions for lighting

requirements

Awareness of other personnel involved in decision making regarding lighting requirements

• Camera crew

• Clients

• Customers

• Lighting designer

• Lighting technicians

• Performers/actors

• Special effects operators • Supervisor

• Director

• Producer

Awareness of the role of external hirers such as lighting hire companies

Working knowledge of a range of lights and lighting equipment

A basic understanding of the following bump in processes

• Rigging

• Patching

• Framing

• Gelling

• Focusing

• Light control programming

Occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements in relation to lighting

Safe work practices relevant to lighting operations

• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

- gloves

- goggles

- appropriate clothing and footwear

- harness

• Correct manual handling

• Safe posture

• Safe work techniques

- operating at heights 

- maintaining appropriate ventilation

- handling hot surfaces

- using electricity

A basic awareness of lighting control systems in a range of performance venues

Understanding the importance of safe and effective positioning of lighting equipment

Cables

• 3-phase

• 240 volts

Safe work practices and procedures

An awareness of types of lighting desks/boards

• Manual control desks

• Memory systems

– analogue and digital

General features of a lighting desk

• Lighting circuits

• Faders

• Presets

• Display monitors

• Dead black out (DBO)

Lighting desk operations

• Back-up equipment

• Controlled lighting effects

• Lighting desk peripherals

• Manual/memory desks

• Manual preset operation • Manually operated desks • Scene submaster operation

• Submaster cue stacking and playback

• Theatrical cue set up and playback

An awareness of lighting desk protocols

A basic awareness of dimmers

• Analogue

• Multiplexed analogue

• Multiplexed digital

• MUX and DMUX units

• Single unit (follow spot) dimmers

• Small self-contained dimmable controllers

A basic awareness of patch system layouts

• Automated lighting

• Distributed dimming

• Distributed patching

• Dual systems

A basic knowledge of light beam accessories and their purpose

• Gel types

• Gel frames

• Barn doors

• Gobos and gobo holders

• Iris

• Doughnuts

• Top hats

• Black wrap

• Shutters

• Spun

• Standard pump propelled glycol-based or oil-based atmospheric (smoke) effects

Importance of adhering to instructions when undertaking lighting activities

• Enterprise/organisation policies and procedures

• Supervisor’s oral and written instructions

• Lighting plans

• Licensing requirements

• Manufacturer’s specifications

• Operator manuals

Equipment checks

• Electrical safety

• Mechanical safety

• Electrical function

• Electronic function

Cleaning, maintenance and storage of lighting equipment and accessories

Documentation

• Use and performance of equipment

• Operational faults and malfunctions

• Completed maintenance

• Repair tasks and outcomes

Understanding of lines of reporting and communicating with supervisors within the enterprise/organisation

Reporting

• Formal/informal

• Written/verbal

Strategies for the promotion of cooperative working environments

• Good communication

• Mutual respect

• Understanding roles and responsibilities of others

• Positive working relationships

• Application of codes of conduct, workplace policies and procedures

• Teamwork

Relationship between lighting operations and other technical and creative areas

• Audio

• Vision systems

• Staging

• Stage manager

• Performers

• Director

• Front of house

Importance of lighting personnel liaising with other production staff

• Director

• Stage manager

• Sound designer

• Sound technician