Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies

Film And Video Production Lighting Operation Skills Training

SAQA US 117532 | NQF 4 | Credits 7 | Duration 4 Days
From $1,107 per delegate

Description

This course equips participants with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to operate lighting equipment effectively in film and video production environments. Learners will gain competence in setting up, controlling, and troubleshooting lighting systems to achieve desired visual outcomes while adhering to industry safety standards.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply fundamental lighting principles to achieve specific moods and visual styles in film and video productions.
  • Demonstrate safe setup and operation of standard lighting equipment, including tungsten, HMI, and LED fixtures.
  • Analyze lighting requirements for different scenes and adjust lighting ratios to enhance subject visibility and depth.
  • Implement lighting control techniques using dimmers, flags, and diffusers to shape and modify light.
  • Evaluate lighting setups for compliance with health and safety regulations in a production environment.
  • Troubleshoot common lighting equipment issues and perform basic maintenance to ensure reliable operation.

Target Audience

This course is designed for aspiring lighting technicians, camera operators, and production assistants who need foundational lighting operation skills for film, television, or corporate video production.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Fundamentals of Lighting in Film and Video Production

Objectives:
• Understand the role and impact of lighting in visual storytelling.
• Identify different types of lighting instruments and their applications.
• Explain basic lighting principles: intensity, colour temperature, and direction.
• Demonstrate safe setup and operation of lighting equipment.
• Apply the three-point lighting setup in a controlled environment.

Topics:
• Introduction to lighting theory: quality, quantity, and colour of light.
• Overview of lighting instruments: tungsten, HMI, LED, and fluorescent.
• Lighting accessories: gels, diffusers, reflectors, and flags.
• Electrical safety and cable management.
• Colour temperature and white balance.
• Three-point lighting: key, fill, and back light.
• Practical exercise: basic lighting setup.

Day 2: Lighting Techniques for Mood and Atmosphere

Objectives:
• Control light intensity and contrast using diffusion and flags.
• Create mood through lighting ratios and colour gels.
• Use practical lights and motivated lighting to enhance realism.
• Apply hard and soft lighting techniques for different effects.
• Operate dimmers and lighting control consoles effectively.

Topics:
• Lighting ratios and contrast control.
• Hard light vs. soft light: characteristics and uses.
• Diffusion materials and techniques.
• Colour gels and creative colour mixing.
• Motivated lighting and practical lights.
• Dimming systems and DMX control basics.
• Practical exercise: lighting for mood (e.g., dramatic, romantic, suspense).

Day 3: Advanced Lighting Setups and Location Challenges

Objectives:
• Adapt lighting techniques for location shoots with varying conditions.
• Execute multi-source lighting for larger scenes.
• Use lighting to enhance depth and texture.
• Solve common lighting problems: mixed colour temperatures, limited power.
• Collaborate effectively with the camera department for exposure matching.

Topics:
• Lighting for different genres: interview, narrative, documentary.
• Working with natural light and supplementing with artificial sources.
• Lighting for green screen and chroma key.
• Battery-powered lights and portable solutions.
• Matching lighting to camera exposure and ISO.
• Problem-solving: mixed lighting scenarios.
• Practical exercise: location-style lighting setup.

Day 4: Integration, Efficiency, and Professional Practice

Objectives:
• Plan and execute a complete lighting design for a short scene.
• Manage time and resources efficiently on set.
• Apply industry best practices for workflow and communication.
• Troubleshoot common technical issues independently.
• Demonstrate readiness for entry-level lighting operation roles.

Topics:
• Lighting design process: script breakdown, location scout, lighting plan.
• Crew roles: gaffer, best boy, lighting technician.
• Time management and prioritisation on set.
• Equipment maintenance and inventory management.
• Troubleshooting: flicker, overheating, colour mismatch.
• Industry standards: safety protocols and paperwork.
• Final practical assessment: lighting a short scene from briefing to wrap.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Thu 10 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,107 Register
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Tue 28 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,107 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 528 sessions across 26 venues
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Tue 27 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,436 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,436 Register
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Mon 03 Jan 2028 Thu 06 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,436 Register
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Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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