The light board operator (commonly referred to as the "Light Op" or "Board Op") or moving light programmer, is the

electrician An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance ...

who operates and/or programs the

light board A lighting control console (also called a lightboard, lighting board, or lighting desk) is an electronic device used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple stage lights at once. They are used throughout the entertainment industry and a ...

. Depending on the scale and type of production, the board op may be responsible for conventional or

automated Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, namely by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machines ...

lighting fixtures, as well as practicals and, in some instances, controlling video as well. Sometimes, most commonly in small productions, the light board operator will also be the

stage manager Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. Stage management may encompass a variety of activities including the overseeing of the rehearsal p ...

. Another variation in smaller productions has the responsibilities of light board operator and sound operator combined into one position. In the smallest productions, all three of these functions are done by one person. For productions where lighting and sound are operated by a single person, as well productions where sound needs to be exactly timed with lighting, it is not unusual to use

MIDI Show Control MIDI Show Control, or MSC, is a significant Real Time System Exclusive extension of the international Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) standard. MSC enables all types of entertainment equipment to easily communicate with each other thro ...

(MSC),

Open Sound Control Open Sound Control (OSC) is a protocol for networking sound synthesizers, computers, and other multimedia devices for purposes such as musical performance or show control. OSC's advantages include interoperability, accuracy, flexibility and enha ...

(OSC), or Timecode (

SMPTE Time Code SMPTE timecode ( or ) is a set of cooperating standards to label individual frames of video or film with a timecode. The system is defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in the SMPTE 12M specification. SMPTE revised ...

) to synchronize the lighting, video, and audio consoles. The light board operator could, in some cases, also be the

lighting designer In theatre, a lighting designer (or LD) works with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create the lighting, atmosphere, and time of day for the production in response to the text while keeping ...

for a production.

Responsibilities

The light op has many responsibilities in theater, especially in small productions. For small productions, the light op may also be the

and master electrician, and is therefore required to create a lighting plot, and perform a complete hang and focus in addition to their duties as board operator. In more professional environments, the light board operator is a highly specialized professional who is usually well versed in the intricacies of a wide variety of lighting instruments and control consoles, and able to easily program complex lighting cues involving multiple fixtures and other components. getinmedia.com careers lighting console operator
During the

technical rehearsal The technical rehearsal or tech rehearsal is a rehearsal that focuses on the technological aspects of the performance, in theatrical, musical, and filmed entertainment. Types Tech rehearsals generally are broken down into four types: dry tech re ...

s, the light board operator usually programs the lighting console with the assistance of the

and

. In situations where manual boards are being used, the light board operator will work with the lighting designer and the stage manager to practice the timing of the lighting changes. During the performance, the light board operator is often on headset with the Deputy Stage Manager, and multiple other members of the

running crew Running crew, run crew or stage crew, is a collective term used in the theatre to describe the members of the technical crew who supervise and operate ("run") the various technical aspects of the production during a performance. While the "technica ...

. Their responsibility lies primarily in advancing the cues under the direction of the deputy stage manager. It is important that light board operators be familiar with the light plot, as they may be called upon to make "on the fly" changes to accommodate unexpected circumstances that occur during the production.

References

External links

wordpress.com, Production Team & Crew Glossary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Light Board Operator Stage lighting Stage crew Filmmaking occupations Television terminology Theatrical occupations Broadcasting occupations

Responsibilities

See also

References

External links