The Future of Lighting Control: Blackout LivePlot
In the fast-paced world of filmmaking, efficiency is everything. Shrinking budgets and tight schedules demand that cinematographers and their teams work smarter, not just harder. In this insightful video, cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, joins forces with Ian S. Peterson, a Blackout programmer, to unveil a powerful system revolutionizing on-set lighting control: the Blackout lighting console. This complete system offers unprecedented lighting control (DMX) for filmmakers through its innovative LivePlot feature, an intuitive lighting control app, and the new Blackout Navigator hardware.
What You Will Learn in This Article:
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CINEMATOGRAPHY TIP: CREATE EFFICIENT LIGHTING CONTROL
VISUALIZING LIGHT IN REAL-TIME: THE POWER OF LIVEPLOT
Imagine having a visual representation of your entire lighting setup. Particularly, right on an iPad using the lighting control app with the power to display the intensity levels of each individual light in real-time. That’s precisely what LivePlot offers. Instead of relying solely on verbal cues and physical checks, the cinematographer, gaffer, DIT, and programmer can all see a live digital map of the Blackout lighting landscape.
As Blackout programmer Ian Peterson adjusts the intensity of backlight units, Shane’s iPad instantly reflects those changes. Moreover, this immediate visual feedback is a game-changer for several reasons, including enhanced communication, increased efficiency, real-time problem-solving, and providing an invaluable overview for complex setups.
| ENHANCED COMMUNICATION | Everyone on the lighting team is literally on the same page. Adjustments are visualized, reducing ambiguity and the potential for misunderstandings. |
| INCREASED EFFICIENCY | Cinematographers can make quicker and more informed decisions about light levels and placement. There’s less back-and-forth and fewer wasted minutes fine-tuning. |
| REAL-TIME PROBLEM SOLVING | If a light isn’t hitting the subject as intended or background levels are inconsistent, the LivePlot feature provides immediate visual cues, allowing for swift corrections. |
| INVALUABLE FOR COMPLEX SETUPS | On sets with numerous lights, keeping track of individual levels can be a daunting task. LivePlot provides a clear and organized overview. |
Shane emphasizes that as budgets and schedules tighten, this level of real-time visualization becomes absolutely crucial for maintaining quality and staying on track. Consequently, the ability for the entire crew to operate from the same visual information fosters a more collaborative and efficient workflow.
TACTILE PRECISION: INTRODUCING THE BLACKOUT NAVIGATOR
While the iPad interface of Blackout offers incredible mobility, Ian introduces the new Blackout Navigator, a dedicated lighting control panel designed to provide tactile control. Overall, this innovative piece of equipment bridges the gap between the intuitive touch interface and the precision of physical controls. That is to say, the Blackout Navigator gives you a physical lighting remote control switch for every function.
The Blackout Navigator features backlit encoders for precise, hands-on control and motorized faders that offer the familiar feel of traditional lighting consoles. One of its most ingenious features is a built-in Wi-Fi router. Ian demonstrates how he can unplug the iPad from a wired connection, and the Navigator seamlessly takes over. Therefore, this enables true light control by remote, allowing untethered movement around the set to visually assess the lighting from various angles. In other words, a crucial aspect of a cinematographer’s work.
The Blackout Navigator Features |
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| BACKLIT ENCODERS | Providing precise, hands-on control over parameters like intensity, color temperature, and pan/tilt. The backlighting ensures visibility in dimly lit set environments. |
| MOTORIZED FADERS | Offering the familiar feel and visual feedback of traditional lighting consoles for adjusting light levels. The motorized aspect allows for smooth transitions and easy recall of settings. |
| BUILT-IN WI-FI ROUTER | This is a particularly ingenious feature. Ian demonstrates how he can unplug the iPad from a wired connection, and the Navigator seamlessly takes over wireless control of the lighting rig. This allows for untethered movement around the set to visually assess the lighting from various angles, a crucial aspect of a cinematographer’s work. |
Shane immediately appreciates the “easy and effortless” nature of adjusting light levels using the Navigator. The tactile feedback allows for subtle and precise adjustments without having to look directly at a touchscreen. This hands-on control empowers cinematographers to fine-tune their Blackout lighting with greater intuition and speed.
SHANE’S TIP: EFFORTLESS CONTROL IS A GAME CHANGER
Shane’s key takeaway (and the Cinematography Tip of the Day) is to make lighting work for you and your needs with the right tools. For instance, the sheer ease and effortlessness that this lighting console brings to on-set lighting control makes it essential.
So, he demonstrates this by directing Ian to adjust the background lights and bring up the fill lights. The speed and accuracy with which these adjustments are made highlight the efficiency gains.
Meanwhile, Shane underscores that having this level of immediate visual and tactile control is a game-changer for cinematographers. Above all, it allows them to focus on the creative, work more intuitively, and collaborate seamlessly with the entire team.
| FOCUS ON THE CREATIVE | By streamlining the technical aspects of lighting control, cinematographers can dedicate more mental energy to the artistic nuances of shaping light and telling the story visually. |
| WORK MORE INTUITIVELY | The real-time feedback loop between adjustments and their visual impact allows for a more intuitive and responsive approach to lighting. |
| COLLABORATE SEAMLESSLY | The shared visual reference of the LivePlot facilitates clearer and more efficient communication with the entire lighting team. |
THE BOTTOM LINE:
In short, the Blackout lighting system, centered around its powerful lighting console and intuitive app, represents a significant leap forward in on-set lighting control. Shane Hurlbut, ASC, clearly sees the immense value in this technology, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency, improve communication, and ultimately empower cinematographers to focus on their creative craft. By providing real-time visual and tactile feedback, Blackout is proving to be a true game-changer for film makers working under the pressures of an ever-changing landscape of film production.
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This video is proudly lit exclusively by Nanlux-Nanlite Lights and sponsored by B&H and Hollyland.
