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Lighting Technician - Personal requirements

Kaihangarau Rama

Skills & knowledge

Lighting technicians need to have:

knowledge of lighting and set design
knowledge of lighting special effects, and the qualities of light and colour
creative ability to operate a lighting system
knowledge of the filming process, particularly different camera techniques if working in film or television
communication skills in order to relate to the director, performers and production crew
knowledge of safety procedures
technical skills, including electrical knowledge
organisational skills
planning skills.

Personal Qualities

Lighting technicians need to be practical, punctual and able to work well under pressure. They should also be accurate and have a good sense of colour.

"If you are not sure about something when you are rigging lights on top of a roof you have to be able to ask 'Have I done this the right way?' Because if those lights fall on someone, the consequences are very real."

Jennifer Lal - Lighting technician

Physical Requirements

Lighting technicians need to be reasonably fit as they often work long hours with few breaks. They also need to have good hearing and normal colour vision, and must not be afraid of heights as they have to climb up rigging.

"If you do television lighting work, you need to be able to lift and move objects because the job can be quite physical. You also need a head for heights because you are always climbing up ladders or working above sets."

Gavin Jack - Lighting Technician

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