Meet The Gaffer

Tyler McPherron walks us through his approach to a series of spots shot in anamorphic and handheld. Most of the scenes were outside, but with a small crew and a lot to shoot, we kept it simple and moveable.
My end screen was put in too early, so I wasn't apple to put in the logo or the video buttons. And I'm not sure how to link the Patreon logo. Total Fail. I'll keep trying...

[@animusvisual]

This is excellent. Please more content like this. Extremely helpful.

[@ZWAmundson]

Ditto! Grest stuff Luke!

[@meetthegaffer]

:)

[@paulwright717]

Such great examples, I loved being able to see the finished products! Learned a ton- thank you!

[@calincaloo]

Incredibly helpful episode. Thank you. Loved seeing the interview with the dp as well

[@somnangvann]

The BTS breakdown from you and the DP are so helpful in this episode. Love your channel

[@meetthegaffer]

Thank you!

[@NextLevelProds]

Agreed, this was my favorite episode because we heard more about intent and gear selection..but also saw the BTS and the final spots. Great stuff!

[@meetthegaffer]

It’s nice when it all comes together:)

[@brandonmattingly]

Dang. Such great BTS of a commercial like this. Cool to see something so clean pulled off from a simple, yet effective crew." Well done!

[@meetthegaffer]

Thank you, Brandon! Good people, gear, weather, and food equals quality outcome:)

[@FilmByteProductions]

Loved that you showed the final result after explaining the breakdown. Keep up the great work!

[@agudal8503]

Good Job! You are my favourite channel! Everything is insightful and calm!

[@baconbits5000]

These spots turned out great! So much to learn here. Thanks Luke.

[@meetthegaffer]

It was a good team! Thank you, Jayson.

[@Ellis4b]

Jason and Ernie It gets no better than that!!! Two amazing guys, always a pleasure working under them!!!!

[@meetthegaffer]

Yes! Roy!! Hope to see you on a job before the summer is gone:)

[@SouthpawAutoworks]

Enjoyed this one...I enjoy all of your content. Always learning from your videos. Thank you, Luke.

[@darrellbrett8368]

Like how in depth you both were. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@Bryce.Padovan]

What a find this channel has been! I've been going through all of your videos. This is honestly one of the BEST channels for learning lighting in REAL world scenarios. So good. Keep them coming!

[@meetthegaffer]

I’m glad you found it... welcome!

[@Ingyar]

Looks great. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@dominicjoyce7870]

I've only just discovered this series. I've been asking around for months to try and find something like this. Thanks so much for putting the time in to making these. It's exactly what I need!!

[@meetthegaffer]

Glad you found us Dominic!

[@sahandminaei4794]

Hey Luke, I just want to thank you for this great source of education for young DPs like me. I have learnt a lot from you. I really appreciate it, you are the best. Thank you

[@jebaranjith]

Love from India. This video is a great effort to educate us on lighting . Thanks.

[@meetthegaffer]

I’m glad you found it helpful. Returning the ❤️!

[@BrothaSubjek]

Good stuff as usual. I saw the commercial with the construction worker and his truck.

[@chrisfrancis1738]

These spots look great, thank you for sharing all of these great BTS vids!

[@davidp158]

Thanks for the BTS and final edits. It really helps see how the gear and techniques work together.

[@meetthegaffer]

Yup. Once in a while the stars align:)

[@davidp158]

@@meetthegaffer I did a 2 camera shoot yesterday, and the other shooter was Howard Shack. Howard used to work in S.F. and remembers you. We're in Seattle.

[@meetthegaffer]

Fun! I love all the production folks I’ve met from Seattle:)

[@antietambroadband]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing. I love lighting, but gave up freelancing for a full-time gig and a writer, shooter, editor and lighter....it's amazing what you guys did with a small crew.

[@doylelacrua]

Great episode. Cool to see the big setup and also the actual result.

[@CineGraphStudios]

He washed the car and then put the window down, haha! Good work Luke, I always look forward to watching your videos!

[@johantaljaard2093]

Those spots look really really good. Thanks very much Luke. I learn so much from these videos.

[@meetthegaffer]

Your welcome, Johan!

[@agudal8503]

This is the most perfecto tutorial I've seen

[@kylosalvesen]

Much more helpful than a lot of other similar videos on youtube, thanks!

[@MarcosRochaTV]

Wow! this is awesome.

[@adepew]

Thanks for this! I love in depth breakdowns.

[@zfarahx]

This was just great Luke! Thank you so much! :)

[@meetthegaffer]

I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@NOMOFilms]

Really love this content, thanks so much for posting.

[@robnjk]

Super interesting video Luke! Would love to see more just like it

[@meetthegaffer]

:)

[@chadwin]

Very very cool! Absolutely love this stuff. You guys used a lot of sweet techniques. Thanks for sharing, please keep doing it!

[@meetthegaffer]

Right on, sir.

[@austinbridge]

Absolutely fantastic info in this one. Thanks for taking the time to break things down!

[@meetthegaffer]

Your welcome, Austin!

[@Photographicelements]

This was a great video! I loved seeing the BTS as you described the process and lighting choices. Also, the lighting looks so amazing in the final commercial, I almost signed up for The General!

[@meetthegaffer]

Ha, ha!

[@TommyCallaway]

That hood mount was awesome

[@Menapho]

Always great Luke! Thank you.

[@tylermcpherron]

Thank you Luke! Love what you do my friend. Keep it up.

[@meetthegaffer]

Everybody loves your content... well, except for the one thumbs down, but that’s probably something I said:) You are always a pleasure to work for! All the best out there.

[@InsomniaPictureWorks]

Well done.

[@d.c.sheets2592]

This was a great video! Excellent content.

[@karlrobertson9388]

Brilliant, thanks

[@jiawenliTV]

This is solid gold. Thank you

[@thisispav]

saving my life right now

[@meetthegaffer]

In what way is your life being saved? :)

[@Jrocchetti]

amazing video! thanks so much for taking the time to put this together while working!

[@meetthegaffer]

👊🏻It’s worth it for comments like that:)

[@joehenry3275]

Thanks for this video - incredibly useful!

[@meetthegaffer]

Your welcome, Joe!

[@guguemichaels]

Very nice!

I really enjoyed this episode!

[@tallguytrav]

Great content. I could watch this kind of stuff for hours. learned some tricks too. thanks so much

[@meetthegaffer]

You are most welcome:)

[@HiramAlejandroArista]

Who else wanted to see the girl's spot finale result?

[@DavidBrazda1]

Thank you for that episode!

[@TheRickurb]

Great episode Luke! Even the slackers on their phones! Lol

[@meetthegaffer]

Ha, ha!

[@PancakeLighting]

Thanks again for another great piece! I was wondering if you can do a more detailed episode about running bigger lights off the 7k, going over power draw, common adapters and common practice? Thanks

[@meetthegaffer]

Would be good... but I may not get to it soon. It’s easier when it’s connected to a job! If someone else out there wants to take that on though...

[@evanpapadakis4015]

The videos are incredible!!

[@morganmccollum1037]

Awesome video! Subscribed

[@hipstershep]

Tyler Mcpherron, thinking about braille skateboards when he was giving that into

[@bboyswoosh87]

i loved it thank you for posting this.

[@okmachine]

Very Informative. Thank you!

[@bikenejad]

Whoever put that diff frame on that c stand at 2:27 needs to watch your earlier video on how to use a c stand haha

[@meetthegaffer]

Right?!!

[@TheNakedLarry]

Thank you that helped..

[@toceanak]

Great episode never knew you could run the 6k off a putput

[@meetthegaffer]

It’s gotta be the right putt-putt:)

[@toceanak]

@@meetthegaffer when using a 7000 like that and lets say your running all HMI's, no tungsten, then does it make sense to just always be in 220 so you can run more amperage?

[@meetthegaffer]

I don’t know about more amps, but it’s often more efficient as your not breaking out the amperage into individual 20A circuits. Instead you are making all of the power available to the 240V connector.

[@thervey18]

Your content is a gold mine Luke! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. I'd like to know your thoughts on bouncing light on an ultrabounce or shooting through diffusion. Given the space, do you prefer one over the other? What are advantages and disadvantages? Thanks!

[@meetthegaffer]

Hi Tyler, As with so many creative/craft questions, it often depends on a lot more than an either/or choice between bouncing or going direct through diffusion. If we have the space, budget, time, and power... and it fits the purpose/script, I would usually opt for a book light, which uses both the bounce and diffusion, but uses indirect rather than direct light. That said, people say a 360 Skypanel direct is like a book light in that it’s large and soft... so yeah, it depends: too many variables to pick a side until you know what the scenario is, I’m afraid:)

[@devPunks]

Shouts to the Best Boy who used wire on that Quasar and dialed in the RGB color. He's #TheRealMVP ;-) I remember all the episodes off the top of my head! Like a good student should. :-D

[@meetthegaffer]

Ha, ha! You crack me up, man:)

[@etiennelacroix-videoproduc4382]

Hi! Great video. Could you tell around which budget this was? Thanks and greets from Belgium!

[@meetthegaffer]

Sorry, I really have no idea:)

[@kiwu8354]

learn a lot 👍

[@filipeko1991]

AMAZING so so helpfull!

[@philipyallah744]

So good, thanks a lot! Would you say a 6k hmi is the minimum for pulling these kind of situations off (soft bounced or silked key that will compete cloudy days)?

[@meetthegaffer]

Yes... we were a little undergunned, but it fit the constraints:)

[@branhasknowidea]

I have that same green Stanley thermos. The pouring nozzle for the vacuum seal isn't supposed to come all the way off, what an outrage. Sincerely, a BBE who comes prepared with their own excessive amount of coffee. PS no protection on those suction cups? Or was carpet shield or something applied? Thought I spotted some duve scraps in there, maybe mouse pads under the square parts, but I'm only on my first cup of coffee for the day.

[@meetthegaffer]

Ha, ha!

[@NextLevelProds]

I've worked with that amazing actress before. It's Erika Toraya!

[@meetthegaffer]

:)

[@danparsons170]

Where do I get one of those wonderful clamp on umbrellas!?!!?

[@meetthegaffer]

From the DP: found on B&H Photo Video www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1410623-REG

[@ParisHolmesFilms]

Nice episode

[@meetthegaffer]

Now if I can just figure out a proper End Screen...

[@bboyswoosh87]

Hey Luke can you review both the Aputure 120d vs Hive Lighting 100c I still haven't seen a direct comparison.

[@meetthegaffer]

I’m probably not the right guy for that, because I no longer have a 100c and don’t know anyone with a 120d. My apologies!

[@LeoMarketingEP]

Hi Luke, I have a question how were you able to run that 6K off the 240V/ 30 amp plug on the genny? The lowest current draw of the arri ballast is 44 amps (according to the specs). Did you use a power gems ballast? (much lower amp draw)

[@meetthegaffer]

I think it was an Arri ballast. By going 240V we are essentially splitting the amperage in half across the two hot legs. I believe the nominal amperage in the spec document is based on a nominal 120V reading even though you’ll most likely run the ballast @240V. Does that help?

[@LeoMarketingEP]

@@meetthegaffer it does help I'm looking to purchase a Honda 7000is. I was reading an article about it and the article said that in 240 volt mode the highest amp draw on the 240 plug is 22.8A X 240V =5500w of constant RMS power. With surge Peak power of 7000w for a short period of time. If you were able to plug in a 6K ballast running at the best case scenario 25 amps at 240V this would mean the article is incorrect. shedheads.net/honda-eu7000is-generator-review/

[@meetthegaffer]

@@LeoMarketingEP Well, we tried out two 7K putt-putts on that job. We had a newer one on the first day and it had trouble keeping the light on. The second day, we had an older model and it worked fine, so we were definitely on the edge! In this case it would have been smarter on our part to combine two 7Ks to make sure we had some overhead, because we wanted to be able to run a 6K and a 4K with a 7K and 6500 genny. To me this is similar to people saying they are able to run an M18 on a 2200 genny. This may work with a Power Gems ballast, but with my Arri ballast it does not work. When you're on a job and everyone is waiting for light, it's not good to have to say you have to go smaller because your genny isn't able to work the load. A lot of jobs come together quickly so you do what you can with the pieces that you have. If you are able to spend time planning, I would not trust a 7K genny to run a 6K everytime... we were unlucky the first day and lucky the second day, and we only did what we did because we were pinched on budget and those were the tools readily at hand. Hope that clears things up a little.

[@LeoMarketingEP]

@@meetthegaffer Thank you for the Insight that makes it more clear. Also, thank you for taking the time to respond to questions. I appreciate it.

[@meetthegaffer]

Happy to help! Enjoy genny shopping! I just have a 2K and 3K genny and rent larger ones when the need arises:)

[@opqrst7]

👍🏻

[@DeadManRunning1]

at 8:45 you mention to have a condor giving talent a "liner". what is a liner?

[@meetthegaffer]

It’s a light from behind and off to the side that adds a separating edge of light to a person creating separation from the background, similar to providing an “outline” of the subject.

[@DeadManRunning1]

@@meetthegaffer got it, thanks for the reply! Love your channel

[@h4328]

2:02 lol

[@meetthegaffer]

😂

[@Menapho]

How did your DP like the Sony Venice?

[@meetthegaffer]

He owns it and loves it:)

[@Menapho]

Awesome! I’ve been giving serious consideration to it for a feature. The Alexa currently at the top of my list. Thanks!

[@HiramAlejandroArista]

Who else wanted to see the girl's spot finale result?

[@meetthegaffer]

It is not yet public.