The article discusses the challenges and solutions in lighting Black actors, specifically focusing on the HBO show Insecure.
Ava Berkofsky, the director of photography for Insecure, devises techniques to ensure actors with darker skin tones are visible in dimly lit scenes.
Challenges in Lighting Black Actors
Historical lack of understanding in Hollywood about proper lighting for Black actors.
Conventional lighting techniques often fail to properly represent darker skin tones.
Standard practices like setting skin tones to 70 IRE doesn't work well for Black actors.
Syreeta McFadden's essay highlights the inherited bias in photography against dark skin.
Solutions Employed by Insecure
Ava Berkofsky uses non-traditional lighting techniques:
Reflective base on actors' skin applied by makeup artists.
Reflection of light off actors’ faces using whiteboards with LED lights (S2 LiteMat 4s).
Use of a polarizer filter over the camera lens to manage reflections.
These techniques allow for shaping and reflecting light effectively on darker skin tones without overexposing or distorting colors.
Impact and Reception
Berkofsky's techniques are praised for resolving common issues Black actors face in film.
The show's lighting contributes to its reputation as a cinematic experience.
Twittersphere and critics praise the innovative solutions provided by Berkofsky.
Additional Insights
The article suggests that proper lighting techniques can greatly enhance the quality of cinematic experiences for shows with predominantly Black casts.
Berkofsky's work is seen as a pioneering step towards more inclusive and accurate representation in media lighting.