Learning Lighting from the Masters

Learn directly from Chris Weaver, 35 year veteran of film and TV and BAFTA award winning Director of Photography who has worked for HBO, NBC, FOX, BBC, Discovery and with Princess Diana, Richard Branson, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Samuel L. Jackson, Gene Hackman, Michael Jackson and more!

In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar you will learn film lighting straight from the masters by breaking down some of the most iconic scenes in cinema. Host Chris Weaver will start by giving you a crash-course in film lighting theory and technique; delivering in short, simple steps all the knowledge required to start making your movies look more cinematic and drawing on his 35 years experience as a film camera operator and Director of Photography, to teach you the foundations of good lighting.

Chris will then move on to demonstrate how the knowledge you’ve just gained has been put to use in some of the most recognizable scenes in cinematic history, from the films; Blade Runner, Casablanca, The Godfather and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Together, with diagrams, you will deconstruct the lighting setups, discuss the effect the lighting has on the audience and finally discover how you can achieve similar results in your independent movies without the need for the big budget or overly expensive equipment.

Chris Weaver started his career as a freelance film camera operator, working for prestigious production companies and channels including BBC, ITV, C4 & 5 in the UK, and HBO, NBC and Fox in the US, working on the internationally respected documentary series Panorama, Horizon and Equinox, as well as regional and national news which took him everywhere from the White House to war zones. Chris has worked with a multitude of high profile individuals across his expansive career including Richard Branson, Neil Armstrong, Princess Diana, Ronald Reagan and Muhammad Ali, as well as many internationally recognized stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Oliver Reed, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman and Michael Jackson, and he is here exclusively for Stage 32 to share that knowledge with the community!

What You Will Learn:

• Film Lighting Crash Course
  • Theory, technique and terminology.
  • 3 Point Lighting – Key, Fill and Backlight
  • Hard light vs. soft light.
  • Bounced light.
  • Color temperature.
  • Low key vs. high key.
• Deconstructing Masterful Lighting Setups
  • Blade Runner.
  • Casablanca.
  • The Godfather.
  • Close Encounters of the Third World.
• From These Setups Learning To:
  • Identify effect, technique, light positioning and strength.
  • Achieve similar effects in your own films without a big budget.
  • Deconstruct other scenes yourself to further your knowledge.
• Live in-depth Q&A with Chris!

Who Should Attend?

• Cinematographers looking improve their skills.
• Filmmakers who want to make their movies look more cinematic.
• Directors who want to understand more about the technical aspects of filmmaking.
• Filmmakers who don’t have a large budget but want Hollywood results.
• Any creative interested in working in the Camera Department of Lighting Department on a film crew.
• Filmschool Cinematographers who want to re-enforce understanding.

About The Webinar Format:

Webinars take place online using a designated software program from Stage 32. You can participate from the comfort of your own home and you will be able to communicate directly with your instructor during the webinar. If you cannot attend the live webinar, you can still participate! The webinar will be recorded and you will have on-demand access to the audio recording, which you can view as many times as you'd like for a whole year. More information can be found below.

About Your Host Chris Weaver, 35 year veteran of film and TV and BAFTA award winning Director of Photography.

Your host Chris Weaver has over 35 years experience in the film and TV industry. Starting his career as a news and documentary film cameraman, Chris travelled the world; filming on the frontline in war zones and in the heat of riots, he has shaken hands with Presidents, interviewed men who walked on the Moon and had tea with British Prime Ministers. He has DoP’d BAFTA award winning music videos and British Independent feature films starring Oliver Reed and Brian Blessed. His training in the fast paced, cut throat world of documentary camera work gave him a formidable knowledge base and efficiency that transferred over to the film set, achieving beautiful lighting setups in a short amount of time

He worked as a Director of Photography for many years, co-directing many Music Videos and Commercials for brands such as British Airways and Bentley for which he won a BAFTA Award. His cinematography career culminated with two 35mm Feature Films, starring, among others, Brian Blessed and Oliver Reed. Chris now works as Director of Free Spirit Film & TV, co- coordinating and directing their independent documentary productions which are televised around the world on Channels such as Discovery, PBS, APT and Canal+.

Chris has worked with a multitude of high profile individuals across his expansive career including Richard Branson, Neil Armstrong, Princess Diana, Ronald Reagan and Muhammad Ali, as well as many internationally recognized stars such as Anthony Hopkins, Oliver Reed, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman and Michael Jackson.