• CUFLGT501A - Conceive and develop lighting designs

CUFLGT501A
Conceive and develop lighting designs

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop lighting designs for productions in the film, television and live performance industries.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application

Lighting designers apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They work closely with directors, directors of photography (DOPs), production designers, technical producers and costume designers to ensure that their lighting designs reflect the style and mood of productions.

On major productions, lighting designers manage a team of lighting assistants/technicians, lighting console operators and electricians. As such, they have responsibility for all aspects of lighting operations, including safety.

Skills associated with realising lighting designs for film and television productions are covered in:

CUFLGT401A Implement lighting designs.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Interpret creative briefs

1. Analyse performance outlines/scripts to determine overall production concepts

2. Participate in preliminary concept meetings with relevant personnel to discuss lighting requirements

3. Identify factors that may determine and affect the lighting design

4. Prepare relevant documentation and brief team on lighting requirements as required

Conduct and evaluate research

5. Identify and source references that may inform the design process

6. Critically analyse sources and references in the context of design projects

7. Consider the impacts and potential of new and emerging technologies to inform the design

8. Collect, collate and adapt materials to develop initial design concepts

Generate and assess ideas

9. Generate a range of ideas for designs that respond sympathetically to briefs and provide creative solutions to technical issues

10. Discuss ideas and collaborate with relevant personnel to maximise their contribution of ideas to initial concepts

11. Continuously reflect on and appraise ideas for implications on cost and time, technical feasibility, and suitability to meet briefs

12. Provide strategic information to effect improvements in the management of production outcomes

Develop and document designs

13. Hold ongoing discussions with relevant personnel so that additional or changed requirements and new ideas are considered and incorporated during the development of designs

14. Ensure that agreement is reached with relevant personnel in relation to consistent artistic interpretation

15. Evaluate initial concepts and select the most appropriate approach, giving due consideration to budget, research findings and ongoing reflection/discussion

16. Use initial concepts as the basis for developing lighting designs, taking into account a range of criteria and factors

17. Accurately complete documentation according to production requirements and enterprise procedures

18. Ensure that lighting designs and plans can be achieved within budget constraints and production schedules

19. Ensure relevant OHS requirements are incorporated into the lighting design process

Communicate design ideas and make amendments

20. Present draft lighting plans and specifications to relevant personnel in an appropriate format

21. Participate in the initial and ongoing evaluation of draft designs

22. Negotiate and agree to modifications to designs and undertake necessary amendments

23. Agree to final designs and produce accurate and comprehensive documentation to support implementation

24. Present final designs, plans and specifications to relevant personnel and confirm that all production requirements have been met

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills sufficient to:

interact effectively with people with diverse interests and needs

seek input and feedback from team members on lighting design concepts

conduct effective negotiations with a wide range of production personnel

initiative and enterprise in the context of generating a range of creative responses to lighting design briefs

well-developed planning and organisational skills in the context of:

ensuring that the design process is fully integrated in the production scheduling process

undertaking research in relation to production design, including creative interpretation and adaptation

ability to address and solve problems and challenges in a timely and collaborative manner

self-management skills sufficient to:

work under pressure

provide appropriate and timely records and documentation

meet production deadlines

literacy skills sufficient to:

interpret written instructions, e.g. script requirements

document lighting plans and specifications

numeracy skills sufficient to interpret budgets and cost estimates

Required knowledge

industry knowledge, including:

roles and responsibilities of personnel in the relevant industry sector

impact of technology on production planning and operations

sound understanding of the creative and technical elements of productions and phases in the production process

issues and challenges that arise in the context of developing lighting designs

role of lighting design within the overall artistic direction of a production

role of the lighting designer, how this may differ depending upon the production, and relationships with other designers and production personnel

relationship between different design elements (costume, sets, lighting, props, sound)

copyright, moral rights and intellectual property legislation in relation to ethical standards and protocols for designers working in the film, television and performance industries

the formal principles and elements of design and their relevance to lighting design

principles and techniques of design and script break-down

sources and availability of lighting materials and equipment

formats for documenting lighting design

current and emerging technologies available to lighting designers

construction methods/implementation issues associated with the realisation of lighting designs

detailed knowledge of lighting and lighting equipment, including:

complementary nature of light

mechanics of vision

relative perceptions of light and dark

principles of reflection and refraction

how these principles are used by manufacturers of lighting equipment

ways that different lighting filters are manufactured and how this affects their performance

duty of care to colleagues and general public

OHS legislation and regulations as they apply to all production areas

Evidence Required

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:

effective communication, negotiation and project management skills to facilitate the design process

the development of creative lighting designs and plans that meet the artistic requirements of productions and address practical production requirements and constraints

research skills, including interpretation and adaptation of design concepts

collaborative approach to work.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

practical demonstration of skills through the development of lighting designs for a minimum of two productions

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

assessment over an extended period of time to reflect the nature of the design process and to assess the experimental aspects of this unit

access to performance outlines/scripts on which designs can be based

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 designs produced by the candidate and their quality in terms of meeting creative briefs

evaluation of the lighting aspects of a production for which the candidate has been responsible

case studies to assess ability to develop designs for different types of productions.

Guidance information for assessment

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

BSBCRT402A Collaborate in a creative process

BSBCRT501A Originate and develop concepts

CUFLGT401A Implement lighting designs.


Range Statement

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.

Productions may include:

animations

electronic field productions, e.g. news, conferences

events

film, e.g. feature, documentary

live performances, e.g. stage plays, musicals

music videos

outside broadcasts

television programs, e.g. studio drama.

Relevant personnel may include:

camera operators

clients

directors

directors of photography (DOP)

gaffer

lighting technicians and operators

make-up supervisors

other specialist staff, e.g. special effects (SFX)

producers

production designers

senior camera personnel

set designers

technical directors

wardrobe supervisors.

Lighting requirements may include:

aesthetics

cables, e.g. DMX

computers

dimmers, e.g.:

analogue

multiplex analogue and digital

single-unit, e.g. follow spot

filters

gels

indoor

lighting consoles and peripherals, e.g.:

monitors

printers

memory storage

effects unit

fader wings

luminaires and lanterns, e.g.:

fresnel

profile

HMI

plasma

theatre-based units

studio and location units

special effects

moving lights

digital moving lights (intelligent lights)

outdoor

period requirements

power sources

production style

rigging accessories.

Factors may include:

available expertise

available resources (human, financial, physical)

available technology

budget

director's approach/instructions

level of assistance available during implementation and construction

needs of other production areas

regulations

space/venue specifications or restrictions

style/period/nature/scale of production

timelines.

Documentation may include:

building specifications, room layouts

colour lists, plots

equipment lists

floor sheets

focus notes

lighting plans (computer or manually generated)

lighting specifications

mock-ups

power requirements

production schedule

samples

script

venue procedures.

References may include:

collages

digital images

film, video, internet

historical information

models

musical scores

paintings and illustrations

photographs

reference books/journals/texts

scripts (adapted or original)

sketches

technical drawings.

New and emerging technologies may include:

digital moving lights (intelligent lights)

light emitting diodes (LED)

organic light emitting diodes (OLED)

zoom profile spotlights.

Criteria and factors may include:

consistency with the style requirements of the script/production

effective use of materials

features of cameras and lenses

research findings

resource constraints

technical feasibility.

OHS requirements may include:

Commonwealth and state or territory OHS regulations

enterprise safety codes and practices

relevant local government legislation and regulation

relevant national and international standards, guidelines and codes of practice.


Sectors

Unit sector


Competency Field

Media and entertainment production - lighting


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.