ABSTRACT
I’m kind of a control freak when it comes to production. I don’t like to be late and I don’t usually allow the existing lighting in any environment control how I will shoot. I arrive at all of my assignments early and with lots of equipment. It’s nice to be early so I can scope out the situation and decide how I want things to look. This strategy gives me plenty of time to plan for compromises because it’s inevitable that something or someone will not work out. It also allows for time to lay out all my gear: the lights and stands, the extension cords, the sandbags, the tripods and so on. I have several production carts, each of which is designed to compliment each other. One cart is self contained and can carry several lights and all the ancillary grip equipment they require as well as the computer, a note pad, my phone and a place to put several cups of coffee. I can do most shoots with just this cart. Another cart is designed to carry more lights and stands, booms, sand bags and lots of “other stuff.” When I have both of these carts out I have a feeling of control, or you might even say “power” because there’s nothing I can’t do with all this stuff, given enough muscle, time and room to put it all out.
