I’m here to enlighten you no pun intended about an element in our lives
intended about an element in our lives
intended about an element in our lives that probably a lot of us take for
that probably a lot of us take for
that probably a lot of us take for granted and that would be that element
granted and that would be that element
granted and that would be that element would be light if you think about it
would be light if you think about it
would be light if you think about it without light nothing in our world could
without light nothing in our world could
without light nothing in our world could exist as we know it light is this
exist as we know it light is this
exist as we know it light is this ephemeral substance it has a huge effect
ephemeral substance it has a huge effect
ephemeral substance it has a huge effect of course on what we see but also on how
of course on what we see but also on how
of course on what we see but also on how we see it
we see it
we see it my mentor Jennifer Tipton used to say
my mentor Jennifer Tipton used to say
my mentor Jennifer Tipton used to say 99% of the audience and perhaps humanity
99% of the audience and perhaps humanity
99% of the audience and perhaps humanity is unaware of the lighting but a hundred
is unaware of the lighting but a hundred
is unaware of the lighting but a hundred percent is affected by it in the theater
percent is affected by it in the theater
percent is affected by it in the theater light creates the visual context it
light creates the visual context it
light creates the visual context it provides the lens through which we
provides the lens through which we
provides the lens through which we experience a theatrical event a lighting
experience a theatrical event a lighting
experience a theatrical event a lighting designer crafts and manipulates the
designer crafts and manipulates the
designer crafts and manipulates the medium of light to tell a story to
medium of light to tell a story to
medium of light to tell a story to inform the style of production and to
inform the style of production and to
inform the style of production and to evoke a particular emotional response
the big question is how do we do it I
the big question is how do we do it I mean how do we accomplish this kind of
mean how do we accomplish this kind of
mean how do we accomplish this kind of objective well before I can get into
objective well before I can get into
objective well before I can get into that I think it’s important I talked a
that I think it’s important I talked a
that I think it’s important I talked a little bit about the nature of light and
little bit about the nature of light and
little bit about the nature of light and how we see think of light as well the
how we see think of light as well the
how we see think of light as well the physical physicians or the physicists
physical physicians or the physicists
physical physicians or the physicists define light as electromagnetic
define light as electromagnetic
define light as electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the
radiation that can be perceived by the
radiation that can be perceived by the eye but I think you should think about
eye but I think you should think about
eye but I think you should think about it as this vibrating wave of radiant
it as this vibrating wave of radiant
it as this vibrating wave of radiant energy that’s emanating from the Sun or
energy that’s emanating from the Sun or
energy that’s emanating from the Sun or bouncing off a reflective surface like
bouncing off a reflective surface like
bouncing off a reflective surface like the moon or the sky or radiating from
the moon or the sky or radiating from
the moon or the sky or radiating from these artificial sources you see here if
these artificial sources you see here if
these artificial sources you see here if you look at this image you see this is a
you look at this image you see this is a
you look at this image you see this is a beam of white light or a wave of white
beam of white light or a wave of white
beam of white light or a wave of white light being broken up into its component
light being broken up into its component
light being broken up into its component parts by a prism you can see that every
parts by a prism you can see that every
parts by a prism you can see that every color of the visible spectrum is
color of the visible spectrum is
color of the visible spectrum is contained
contained
contained in white light and the spectrum ranges
in white light and the spectrum ranges
in white light and the spectrum ranges from red at one end to blue and violet
from red at one end to blue and violet
from red at one end to blue and violet at the other now we’ve all seen a more
at the other now we’ve all seen a more
at the other now we’ve all seen a more compelling version of the spectrum than
compelling version of the spectrum than
compelling version of the spectrum than this graphic representation probably on
this graphic representation probably on
this graphic representation probably on the misty morning of a summer day you
the misty morning of a summer day you
the misty morning of a summer day you you’ve also witnessed a rainbow it’s
you’ve also witnessed a rainbow it’s
you’ve also witnessed a rainbow it’s actually a rainbow occurs when light is
actually a rainbow occurs when light is
actually a rainbow occurs when light is broken up or sunlight is broken up into
broken up or sunlight is broken up into
broken up or sunlight is broken up into its component parts by tiny water
its component parts by tiny water
its component parts by tiny water droplets in the atmosphere so when light
droplets in the atmosphere so when light
droplets in the atmosphere so when light enters the the eye
enters the the eye
enters the the eye it strikes certain receptors you’ve
it strikes certain receptors you’ve
it strikes certain receptors you’ve probably all heard of rods and cones
probably all heard of rods and cones
probably all heard of rods and cones that are part of the retina which you
that are part of the retina which you
that are part of the retina which you can see see there which is a layer of
can see see there which is a layer of
can see see there which is a layer of millions of photosensitive cells and
millions of photosensitive cells and
millions of photosensitive cells and these cells translate light energy into
these cells translate light energy into
these cells translate light energy into electrical energy which is then
electrical energy which is then
electrical energy which is then processed by the brain to create the
processed by the brain to create the
processed by the brain to create the sense of sight also in this region of
sense of sight also in this region of
sense of sight also in this region of the eye there are these other receptors
the eye there are these other receptors
the eye there are these other receptors called a ganglia which produce hormones
called a ganglia which produce hormones
called a ganglia which produce hormones based on in varying quantities based on
based on in varying quantities based on
based on in varying quantities based on the available light for example there’s
the available light for example there’s
the available light for example there’s a hormone called melatonin which is
a hormone called melatonin which is
a hormone called melatonin which is responsible for circadian rhythms or
responsible for circadian rhythms or
responsible for circadian rhythms or your body clock when you wake up when
your body clock when you wake up when
your body clock when you wake up when you sleep when you eat etc in situations
you sleep when you eat etc in situations
you sleep when you eat etc in situations of decreased light levels of low light
of decreased light levels of low light
of decreased light levels of low light levels like when you turn your bedside
levels like when you turn your bedside
levels like when you turn your bedside lamp off at night melatonin will
lamp off at night melatonin will
lamp off at night melatonin will increase the the ganglia will increase
increase the the ganglia will increase
increase the the ganglia will increase more production of melatonin which
more production of melatonin which
more production of melatonin which stimulates the onset of sleep in other
stimulates the onset of sleep in other
stimulates the onset of sleep in other situations under bright light for
situations under bright light for
situations under bright light for example the melatonin decreases and
example the melatonin decreases and
example the melatonin decreases and depending on the quantities you could
depending on the quantities you could
depending on the quantities you could experience discomfort disorientation it
experience discomfort disorientation it
experience discomfort disorientation it kind of reminds me of why I never sleep
kind of reminds me of why I never sleep
kind of reminds me of why I never sleep very well when I forget to turn the
very well when I forget to turn the
very well when I forget to turn the lights off at night now color is also a
lights off at night now color is also a
lights off at night now color is also a very important part of how we perceive
very important part of how we perceive
very important part of how we perceive light and how we feel about things that
light and how we feel about things that
light and how we feel about things that we see for example red under red light
we see for example red under red light
we see for example red under red light we our appetite is stimulated our heart
we our appetite is stimulated our heart
we our appetite is stimulated our heart rate may increase I read a study in the
rate may increase I read a study in the
rate may increase I read a study in the you can post that cited evidence that on
you can post that cited evidence that on
you can post that cited evidence that on sunny days people actually feel more
sunny days people actually feel more
sunny days people actually feel more upbeat about the stock market and under
upbeat about the stock market and under
upbeat about the stock market and under a red light or warm light the they want
a red light or warm light the they want
a red light or warm light the they want the spicier sauce they feel like the
the spicier sauce they feel like the
the spicier sauce they feel like the person they’re with is more attractive
person they’re with is more attractive
person they’re with is more attractive so it probably explains like you don’t
so it probably explains like you don’t
so it probably explains like you don’t see a lot of cool or blue light in a
see a lot of cool or blue light in a
see a lot of cool or blue light in a high-end restaurant or a brothel I mean
high-end restaurant or a brothel I mean
high-end restaurant or a brothel I mean I said you know I mean as a matter of
I said you know I mean as a matter of
I said you know I mean as a matter of fact this is the red light district in
fact this is the red light district in
fact this is the red light district in Amsterdam so now maybe you know why it’s
Amsterdam so now maybe you know why it’s
Amsterdam so now maybe you know why it’s the red light district and not the green
the red light district and not the green
the red light district and not the green light district and and speaking of green
light district and and speaking of green
light district and and speaking of green green is considered the most relaxing
green is considered the most relaxing
green is considered the most relaxing color for the human eye there’s studies
color for the human eye there’s studies
color for the human eye there’s studies that confirm that it actually has a
that confirm that it actually has a
that confirm that it actually has a restful effect on the body it can dilate
restful effect on the body it can dilate
restful effect on the body it can dilate the blood vessels slow breathing and
the blood vessels slow breathing and
the blood vessels slow breathing and some people think it’s the association
some people think it’s the association
some people think it’s the association of green with our ancestral habitat that
of green with our ancestral habitat that
of green with our ancestral habitat that makes it so beneficial and blue another
makes it so beneficial and blue another
makes it so beneficial and blue another color that’s that’s very common it’s
color that’s that’s very common it’s
color that’s that’s very common it’s associated with a theory ality coolness
associated with a theory ality coolness
associated with a theory ality coolness serenity in the city of Glasgow actually
serenity in the city of Glasgow actually
serenity in the city of Glasgow actually installed blue street lighting in
installed blue street lighting in
installed blue street lighting in certain neighborhoods and they
certain neighborhoods and they
certain neighborhoods and they experienced a a big drop-off in the
experienced a a big drop-off in the
experienced a a big drop-off in the crime rate now my thinking was well
crime rate now my thinking was well
crime rate now my thinking was well maybe it was the that calmed everybody
maybe it was the that calmed everybody
maybe it was the that calmed everybody down but it could have been that it was
down but it could have been that it was
down but it could have been that it was so hard to see there was no activity now
so hard to see there was no activity now
so hard to see there was no activity now one thing that’s that’s also important
one thing that’s that’s also important
one thing that’s that’s also important to remember is that light is kind of
to remember is that light is kind of
to remember is that light is kind of subjective color perception is
subjective color perception is
subjective color perception is subjective it changes depending on
subjective it changes depending on
subjective it changes depending on certain factors such as race or ethnic
certain factors such as race or ethnic
certain factors such as race or ethnic background or age or gender there was
background or age or gender there was
background or age or gender there was the study where males reported that red
the study where males reported that red
the study where males reported that red outfits may actually make females seem
outfits may actually make females seem
outfits may actually make females seem more attractive yet women reported that
more attractive yet women reported that
more attractive yet women reported that the color of a male’s outfit didn’t make
the color of a male’s outfit didn’t make
the color of a male’s outfit didn’t make any difference in terms of
any difference in terms of
any difference in terms of attractiveness now the women here may
attractiveness now the women here may
attractiveness now the women here may beg to differ with the study and okay I
beg to differ with the study and okay I
beg to differ with the study and okay I don’t think I can really blame you the
don’t think I can really blame you the
don’t think I can really blame you the important thing to remember is that
important thing to remember is that
important thing to remember is that there’s a clear physiological
there’s a clear physiological
there’s a clear physiological psychological relationship between light
psychological relationship between light
psychological relationship between light and humans that’s been part of our DNA
and humans that’s been part of our DNA
and humans that’s been part of our DNA for generations
for generations
for generations part of my job as a lighting designer is
part of my job as a lighting designer is
part of my job as a lighting designer is to study these relationships is to
to study these relationships is to
to study these relationships is to understand that any choice we make no
understand that any choice we make no
understand that any choice we make no matter how small can have a profound
matter how small can have a profound
matter how small can have a profound effect on perception and part of my
effect on perception and part of my
effect on perception and part of my personal study is looking at light in
personal study is looking at light in
personal study is looking at light in nature studying the work of the great
nature studying the work of the great
nature studying the work of the great artists who can render light in two
artists who can render light in two
artists who can render light in two dimensions in amazing ways on a canvas
dimensions in amazing ways on a canvas
dimensions in amazing ways on a canvas this is an image of the desert at
this is an image of the desert at
this is an image of the desert at Twilight you can see how the light from
Twilight you can see how the light from
Twilight you can see how the light from the Sun and the sky color the landscape
the Sun and the sky color the landscape
the Sun and the sky color the landscape in magical ways or this incredible
in magical ways or this incredible
in magical ways or this incredible morning light through the stained-glass
morning light through the stained-glass
morning light through the stained-glass windows that it’s like a collaboration
windows that it’s like a collaboration
windows that it’s like a collaboration between man and nature or an image of
between man and nature or an image of
between man and nature or an image of sunset that shows how rich and varied
sunset that shows how rich and varied
sunset that shows how rich and varied the color of light can be at this time
the color of light can be at this time
the color of light can be at this time of day and then the work of these
of day and then the work of these
of day and then the work of these artists this is daga Edward Hopper
Renoir all of them see lights slightly
Renoir all of them see lights slightly differently but they all manage to
differently but they all manage to
differently but they all manage to create a sense of time and place and
create a sense of time and place and
create a sense of time and place and evoke a real emotional response in the
evoke a real emotional response in the
evoke a real emotional response in the viewer and this is what I try to aspire
viewer and this is what I try to aspire
viewer and this is what I try to aspire to when I create life in the theater I’m
to when I create life in the theater I’m
to when I create life in the theater I’m gonna show you a quick demonstration of
gonna show you a quick demonstration of
gonna show you a quick demonstration of how we tell stories through light how we
how we tell stories through light how we
how we tell stories through light how we manipulate light to tell a story and to
manipulate light to tell a story and to
manipulate light to tell a story and to express intention and to affect
express intention and to affect
express intention and to affect perception so we’re gonna kill all the
perception so we’re gonna kill all the
perception so we’re gonna kill all the stage lights we’re gonna go to black in
stage lights we’re gonna go to black in
stage lights we’re gonna go to black in the theatre now can you go to cue number
the theatre now can you go to cue number
the theatre now can you go to cue number one please
okay so what so the objective of this
okay so what so the objective of this exercise is I this is a monologue let’s
exercise is I this is a monologue let’s
exercise is I this is a monologue let’s say Adam is about to speak although he
say Adam is about to speak although he
say Adam is about to speak although he knows he doesn’t really have to say
knows he doesn’t really have to say
knows he doesn’t really have to say anything I’ve decided that there are
anything I’ve decided that there are
anything I’ve decided that there are only two to sort visible sources of
only two to sort visible sources of
only two to sort visible sources of light in the room a candle and moonlight
light in the room a candle and moonlight
light in the room a candle and moonlight now the candle you can see barely lights
now the candle you can see barely lights
now the candle you can see barely lights his face we’ll get it closer so you get
his face we’ll get it closer so you get
his face we’ll get it closer so you get a little bit of light but the sense of
a little bit of light but the sense of
a little bit of light but the sense of moonlight is created by the slash of a
moonlight is created by the slash of a
moonlight is created by the slash of a window on the background and then it’s
window on the background and then it’s
window on the background and then it’s repeated or continued on his torso so
repeated or continued on his torso so
repeated or continued on his torso so that communicates the idea of moonlight
that communicates the idea of moonlight
that communicates the idea of moonlight I started with the idea of candlelight
I started with the idea of candlelight
I started with the idea of candlelight you can see a little bit of it on his
you can see a little bit of it on his
you can see a little bit of it on his face but it’s not enough to sustain this
face but it’s not enough to sustain this
face but it’s not enough to sustain this monologue or keep the audience awake
monologue or keep the audience awake
monologue or keep the audience awake remember melatonin everybody so so what
remember melatonin everybody so so what
remember melatonin everybody so so what so my objective is how do I maintain the
so my objective is how do I maintain the
so my objective is how do I maintain the integrity of this idea but still give
integrity of this idea but still give
integrity of this idea but still give enough light to make the scene happen so
enough light to make the scene happen so
enough light to make the scene happen so I have this source this discrete source
I have this source this discrete source
I have this source this discrete source that’s going to fade up in a slow count
that’s going to fade up in a slow count
that’s going to fade up in a slow count that will hopefully augment but not
that will hopefully augment but not
that will hopefully augment but not change the idea that I’ve created here
change the idea that I’ve created here
change the idea that I’ve created here so you can go on the next cue so now
so you can go on the next cue so now
so you can go on the next cue so now just watch very slowly so imagine if you
just watch very slowly so imagine if you
just watch very slowly so imagine if you were in the audience you wouldn’t really
were in the audience you wouldn’t really
were in the audience you wouldn’t really see this happening
so you can imagine over the course of
so you can imagine over the course of the monologue this light is hidden
the monologue this light is hidden
the monologue this light is hidden you’re not aware that it’s there and
you’re not aware that it’s there and
you’re not aware that it’s there and slowly it fades up and the monologue
slowly it fades up and the monologue
slowly it fades up and the monologue continues nobody falls asleep you
continues nobody falls asleep you
continues nobody falls asleep you maintain your interest
maintain your interest
maintain your interest thank you very much Adam I appreciate it
so this was an example of our process
so this was an example of our process and then if you expand it to on a larger
and then if you expand it to on a larger
and then if you expand it to on a larger scale such as The Lion King
scale such as The Lion King
scale such as The Lion King it’s really the same kinds of decisions
it’s really the same kinds of decisions
it’s really the same kinds of decisions we’re making
we’re making
we’re making for liking our mandate was to create the
for liking our mandate was to create the
for liking our mandate was to create the sense of an unending sky inspired by
sense of an unending sky inspired by
sense of an unending sky inspired by images of the Serengeti here’s a here’s
images of the Serengeti here’s a here’s
images of the Serengeti here’s a here’s the Serengeti for example and here’s an
the Serengeti for example and here’s an
the Serengeti for example and here’s an image from the actual show and you can
image from the actual show and you can
image from the actual show and you can see the relationship because the Lion
see the relationship because the Lion
see the relationship because the Lion King is more of a fantasy and a
King is more of a fantasy and a
King is more of a fantasy and a Shakespearean drama that it is a
Shakespearean drama that it is a
Shakespearean drama that it is a realistic play we were encouraged to
realistic play we were encouraged to
realistic play we were encouraged to kind of develop a landscape that was
kind of develop a landscape that was
kind of develop a landscape that was more emotional than it was real and so
more emotional than it was real and so
more emotional than it was real and so the color palette was a bit wider than
the color palette was a bit wider than
the color palette was a bit wider than you’d counter in nature you can see this
you’d counter in nature you can see this
you’d counter in nature you can see this is fairly naturalistic but then there
is fairly naturalistic but then there
is fairly naturalistic but then there are other moments that were you know
are other moments that were you know
are other moments that were you know highly colored and sort of highly
highly colored and sort of highly
highly colored and sort of highly charged in a way that perhaps you
charged in a way that perhaps you
charged in a way that perhaps you wouldn’t encounter in the real Serengeti
wouldn’t encounter in the real Serengeti
wouldn’t encounter in the real Serengeti another show you might have remembered
another show you might have remembered
another show you might have remembered is or might have experienced was
is or might have experienced was
is or might have experienced was spider-man turn of the turn off the dark
spider-man turn of the turn off the dark
spider-man turn of the turn off the dark it opened in June 2011 it was
it opened in June 2011 it was
it opened in June 2011 it was unbelievably controversial the longest
unbelievably controversial the longest
unbelievably controversial the longest preview period in Broadway history
preview period in Broadway history
preview period in Broadway history unfortunately for me it was inspired by
unfortunately for me it was inspired by
unfortunately for me it was inspired by the Marvel comic strips in terms of the
the Marvel comic strips in terms of the
the Marvel comic strips in terms of the design had brightly and vividly colored
design had brightly and vividly colored
design had brightly and vividly colored backgrounds the scenery unfolded like
backgrounds the scenery unfolded like
backgrounds the scenery unfolded like the pages of a pop-up book and it kind
the pages of a pop-up book and it kind
the pages of a pop-up book and it kind of looked like a massive
of looked like a massive
of looked like a massive three-dimensional version of a graphic
three-dimensional version of a graphic
three-dimensional version of a graphic novel on stage these are some early
novel on stage these are some early
novel on stage these are some early renderings and here are some images from
renderings and here are some images from
renderings and here are some images from the show itself so you can see those
the show itself so you can see those
the show itself so you can see those backgrounds you see how the light is
backgrounds you see how the light is
backgrounds you see how the light is filling in the details and helping to
filling in the details and helping to
filling in the details and helping to support the storytelling you know the
support the storytelling you know the
support the storytelling you know the vivid colors all very much related to
vivid colors all very much related to
vivid colors all very much related to the palates of the artwork that we used
the palates of the artwork that we used
the palates of the artwork that we used as our research one
as our research one
as our research one big challenges was the flying super
big challenges was the flying super
big challenges was the flying super heroes and super villains that soared
heroes and super villains that soared
heroes and super villains that soared over every inch of the theater and even
over every inch of the theater and even
over every inch of the theater and even women who were actually weaving a silk
women who were actually weaving a silk
women who were actually weaving a silk and swinging out on saffron fabrics over
and swinging out on saffron fabrics over
and swinging out on saffron fabrics over the audience heads it was quite a
the audience heads it was quite a
the audience heads it was quite a challenge and quite interesting
challenge and quite interesting
challenge and quite interesting lots of embedded lights in scene a
lots of embedded lights in scene a
lots of embedded lights in scene a Burton scenery even even things like
Burton scenery even even things like
Burton scenery even even things like these taxi cabs that track back and
these taxi cabs that track back and
these taxi cabs that track back and forth had two sets of headlights and
forth had two sets of headlights and
forth had two sets of headlights and tail lights all part of the lighting
tail lights all part of the lighting
tail lights all part of the lighting design all part of us trying to support
design all part of us trying to support
design all part of us trying to support the storytelling the the process was
the storytelling the the process was
the storytelling the the process was quite complex it took four years to
quite complex it took four years to
quite complex it took four years to complete you know not including the
complete you know not including the
complete you know not including the delays and you know we had creative
delays and you know we had creative
delays and you know we had creative meetings budgeting meeting scheduling
meetings budgeting meeting scheduling
meetings budgeting meeting scheduling meetings we didn’t really work out too
meetings we didn’t really work out too
meetings we didn’t really work out too well in terms of scheduling but then a
well in terms of scheduling but then a
well in terms of scheduling but then a year almost in in the theatre there I am
year almost in in the theatre there I am
year almost in in the theatre there I am in the middle of this Maelstrom I
in the middle of this Maelstrom I
in the middle of this Maelstrom I guarantee that you know most theaters
guarantee that you know most theaters
guarantee that you know most theaters and most technical rehearsals don’t look
and most technical rehearsals don’t look
and most technical rehearsals don’t look like this but it was it was a
like this but it was it was a
like this but it was it was a fascinating challenge and the thing is
fascinating challenge and the thing is
fascinating challenge and the thing is that Lion King spider-man no matter how
that Lion King spider-man no matter how
that Lion King spider-man no matter how big the show is how large or small I the
big the show is how large or small I the
big the show is how large or small I the process is very similar to even that
process is very similar to even that
process is very similar to even that little choice that we saw here the thing
little choice that we saw here the thing
little choice that we saw here the thing that I always ask no matter what the
that I always ask no matter what the
that I always ask no matter what the size of the project is I ask this
size of the project is I ask this
size of the project is I ask this question you know how can I reveal the
question you know how can I reveal the
question you know how can I reveal the world of this play or musical in a way
world of this play or musical in a way
world of this play or musical in a way that’s compelling unique and is faithful
that’s compelling unique and is faithful
that’s compelling unique and is faithful to the intention of my collaborators now
to the intention of my collaborators now
to the intention of my collaborators now the parameters might change the tools
the parameters might change the tools
the parameters might change the tools the techniques may differ but one thing
the techniques may differ but one thing
the techniques may differ but one thing is always a constant and that is the
is always a constant and that is the
is always a constant and that is the ephemeral and magical substance we know
ephemeral and magical substance we know
ephemeral and magical substance we know as light
as light
as light [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment