Pre-Light was go for Conversation No. 27. As the Gaffer on the production I had to make the lighting plot as well as the checkout list for the equipments to be checked out from the lighting cage. As a habit of being a computer programmer, I try to minimize the package which turned out to be a BIG mistake. I must have opened the lighting cage at least three times to get necessary equipments. There were just not enough lights to go around around the set and the location.

Spent 12 hours pre-lighting the set because the director and the DP couldn't decide how the scenes will look. I don't think we did much blocking, with a DV cam... -.- Panavision 35 camera is at least 3 times bigger than the JVC DV cam and no use of blocking when you have to consider enough space in a small set. Anyway, since there were not many light sources to accentuate and get motivations for additional lighting, we had to play around until we got the right light level and the look. I was putting lights up and down all day, and only 50% of my original lighting plot remained. I knew from previous 16mm shoot that the lighting changes constantly even if you planned it. There's always this small shadow you have to cast off with something. It will be different again when we do actual shooting.

The lesson: Whatever you didn't plan and discuss on pre-pro, you will pay in production. That's why film production spends tons of papers on scripts, breakdowns, storyboards, etc. Everyone has different take on a script to be shot. Get everyone to see the same picture.