Experienced lighting technicians or operators in the screen, media and entertainment industries apply the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit.

At this level, they are expected to be reasonably creative and innovative in their implementation of lighting schemas across a diverse range of productions. They must be able to exploit the full capabilities of contemporary lighting systems in ways that are consistent with the aesthetics envisaged for productions. Attention to detail in recording and reproducing lighting cues is also required.

Even though people at this level work autonomously, they are members of a production team and need to work collaboratively with lighting designers and directors to achieve creative outcomes. They are often responsible for supervising junior lighting technicians.

Skills associated with implementing lighting designs are covered in:

CUFLGT401A Implement lighting designs.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Connect and format control system for productions

1. Correctly connect dimmers to control desk/console through appropriate control protocols and check to ensure designer's control channel requirements can be achieved

2. Make correct connection to peripheral accessories and control devices, including display, storage and printing equipment

3. Check system for nature of soft patch inherited from previous production and check against default or production soft patch or patch according to enterprise requirements

4. Integrate geographic, grouping, scaling and use of peripheral accessories into the patching process

5. Check dimmers to ensure that they are receiving data and are operating correctly in relationship to required production parameters

6. Complete set-up tasks according to OHS requirements and test control systems for overall functionality

7. Establish, connect and test remote controls for relevant production personnel

Plot and operate advanced cue types

8. Liaise with relevant production personnel to determine the nature of cue type required and use console appropriately to demonstrate capabilities

9. Make available the elements required for the cue type and correctly record

10. Demonstrate cue types to relevant production personnel in accordance with appropriate documentation and modify as required

Plot and operate effects

11. Liaise with relevant production personnel to discuss the types of effect required, and the capacity of the console to produce such effects

12. Correctly use the effects menu, providing demonstrations to colleagues as required

13. Correctly identify the steps needed to record a chosen effect and complete these in a logical sequence

14. Demonstrate effects to relevant production personnel, make appropriate modifications as required and rehearse with relevant items and personnel

Solve lighting problems during performance

15. Correctly and promptly identify lighting problems

16. Use knowledge of control desk/console features and functions to develop solutions to problems without disruption to performance

17. Assess the scope of the problem and make decisions for action within scope of individual responsibility

Required skills

good communication and literacy skills in the context of:

working as an effective team member

briefing colleagues on lighting cues and effects

interpret relevant documentation, e.g. lighting plans, cue sheets

reading and understanding technical and operational manuals

interpreting and writing performance documentation

providing clear verbal and non-verbal cues during productions

technical skills sufficient to:

use advanced features and effects of a range of lighting systems

plan for and use a variety of colour media in lighting

implement back-up systems used in conjunction with lighting control

organisational and self-management skills sufficient to:

solve problems with lighting equipment during set-up and productions

make decisions about lighting operations quickly and effectively in a pressure environment

initiative and creativity in the context of contributing innovative ideas to lighting plots

numeracy skills sufficient to complete simple mathematical calculations and recall numbers for channel selections

Required knowledge

basic elements of lighting design and their impact on the set-up of lighting control systems

the advanced features and effects associated with different lighting systems

features and operations (optical and mechanical) of the main types of lanterns, e.g.:

profile

fresnel

pebble/convex

moving lanterns

flood

PAR (parabolic aluminised reflector) lamps

lantern accessories

lighting control concepts used in various lighting systems

operational parameters of:

automated lighting

colour scrollers

animation discs

gobo rotators

other effects accessories

dedicated controllers for moving lights and remotely controlled lighting effects

DMX protocols

basic understanding of electronics and electricity

duty of care to colleagues and general public

OHS legislation and regulations as they apply to film/television/theatre/performance productions

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

ability to use the full range of console features to set up, record and operate lighting cues and effects

knowledge of lighting control terms and dimmer control protocols, including those related to advanced features

effective communication and problem solving skills

collaborative approach to work.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

practical demonstration of skills through the set-up, recording and operation of lighting cues and effects for more than one production

involvement of and interaction with a production team to reflect the collaborative nature of the production process

use of industry-standard equipment

access to a production venue and a selection of lighting equipment identified in the range statement

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

evaluation of lighting effects produced by the candidate

evaluation of reports produced by the candidate on the processes undertaken to produce lighting for a given set of requirements

case studies projects to develop lighting for different types of productions

verbal or written questioning to assess knowledge of equipment features.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

CUFLGT302A Record and operate standard lighting cues.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Dimmers may include:

analogue dimmers

multiplexed analogue dimmers, single-unit (follow spot) dimmers, e.g. Model 1 or Monopak

multiplexed digital dimmers, e.g. DMX512

MUX and DMUX units, e.g. analogue conversion

small self-contained dimmable controllers, e.g. Fourpack, Quadpak.

Control desks/consoles may include:

controlled lighting effects

manual/memory desks

manually operated desks.

Peripheral accessories and control devices may include:

back-up units

control cables

desk lamp

effects unit

external memory storage

lanterns, e.g.:

theatre-based units, e.g. profiles, fresnels

PAR (parabolic aluminised reflector) lamps

architectural fixtures

monitors

printers

riggers' controls

special effects units, e.g.:

smoke machines

fog machines

hazers

ultraviolet lights

chasers

strobes

mirror balls.

Productions may include:

animations

documentaries

feature films

interactive media productions

live concert performances, e.g. rock concerts, open-air concerts/events

music videos

stage productions, e.g. plays, musicals

television productions, e.g. drama, sport, comedy.

Production parameters may include:

animation discs

automated lighting

colour scrollers

dedicated controllers for moving lights and remotely controlled lighting effects

fibre optic displays

gobo rotators

other accessories, e.g. mirror balls, architectural lighting.

Aspects of control systems to be tested may include:

correct functionality of:

lighting board

dimmer channels

peripherals

designer and riggers' controls

DMX line/signal.

correct selection of control protocols

soft patch configuration.

Production personnel may include:

choreographer

director

director of photography

gaffer

lighting designer

producer

production manager

senior lighting technician

stage manager

supervisor

technical director

other technical/specialist staff.

Cue types may include:

automatically linked fades

chases

conditional fades

manual changes

multiple simultaneous fades

operator's visual cues.

Documentation may include:

cue sheets

fault reports

floor plans

grid layouts

lighting plans

memorandums

operational manuals

scripts

technical manuals.

Unit sector

Media and entertainment production - lighting

This unit contains employability skills.