LIGHTS, MICS, AND ACTION!!!

For the school's production of Bugsy Malone I'll be working backstage doing either lights or sound. This week we looked over the different types of lights and we finally went up onto the catwalk. 

Fresnel Light 

Fresnel light with barn doors attached

Fresnel lights are the most common and most used type of light in theatre as it floods the stage with light in a controlled way. You can also attach barn doors to the front Fresnel lights which allow you to make the light not spill over the stage or onto the projected background if there is one. Fresnel lights are best for the front and middle of the stage. The difference between Fresnel lights and other lights is the fact the Fresnel lights have stepped lens which spreads the light while preventing the light from heating up more than other lights.

PC (pebble convex) Lamp

A PC lamp is similar to the Fresnel Light. The difference between the two is the fact that the PC lamp is able to define an area slightly more as it's edges are a little bit harder compared to the Fresnel light.  It can also have colors and barn doors attached to the outside of the light.

 

Parcan

The Parcan creates an intense beam of light that is difficult to contain compared to the Fresnel and PC. Parcan's are most commonly used for side lighting (profile lighting) due to

the intensity of the beam. It's also common to use parcans for color lighting as the beam creates bright colors. Parcans have a round bottom and usually have a frame on the front that allows colored gels to be slipped in.

Follow Spot

A follow spot is used as a spotlight and is usually manually done. The follow spot has a

handle, sights, and controls which allow whoever is controlling it on the bridge to do their job with ease. Follow spots are quite large and come with a built in color changer and iris which controls the size of the beam.

Flood Lights

 Flood lights are lights that are able to completely flood the stage with light. Flood lights are difficult to control and have aren't as popular as they used to be as many people are using lights with beams that can be controlled.  

Profile Lights

Profile lights are a smaller, non-movable version of a follow spot. Profile lights are also called mini spots and things such as a iris and focusing nob can be fitted. Unlike the follow

spot, mini spots are used for fixed spots such as a lectern.

Birdie Lamps

5 inch long birdie

Birdie lamps (also known as bubba lights) are small lights used to light such as back of stage and back corners. Birdie lamps can easily be attached to the side of the stage and even in the set. Birdie lamps produce a soft pool of light. Birdie lamps aren't all 5 inches as you can also get what are kinda known as teenage birdies. These are fairly big but are still light and easy to rig.  

Gobos

Gobos aren't necessarily a type of light but more a attachment to the light. Gobos are usually a metal pattern, usually made of aluminium, or metal etched glass. Gobos usually project things such as windows, trees, words, or just cool designs. An example is a production of 1776 which was used to project the deceleration of independence as it was being written and signed.