
Lighting Technician
- Details
- Category: Media and Broadcasting Internships

Lighting technicians set up and operate lighting equipment in television and film. They work across all types of programmes and may cover productions inside studios or outside on location.
Work Responsibilities
Tasks vary according to the type of production and the level of experience, but in general they may include:
- Establishing lighting requirements
- Liaising with the lighting director and/or other staff to interpret their creative vision into the lighting design
- Plotting the lighting
- Assembling all the lighting and filter equipment needed
- Ensuring all lighting equipment is in working order and organising any necessary scaffolding and cranes
- Conducting risk assessments for health and safety purposes
- Pre-rigging the lighting and ensuring all cables and wires are safely concealed
- Loading automated colour change systems
- Checking the focusing of lighting at rehearsals
- Operating and maintaining equipment during the shoot
- De-rigging all equipment at the end of the broadcast or production and ensuring it is safely transported
- Reviewing footage shots with the director;
- Liaising with the floor manager, producer and sound technician throughout the project.
A degree is not necessary for this role but subjects such as electrical engineering or physics may be useful for the technical side. There are specialist degree and foundation degree courses that may be particularly useful, including: Candidates need to show evidence of: To be successful at freelance work, you must have good networking skills, be willing and able to deal with financial matters, such as tax and invoicing, and be customer focused.
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