As part of the lighting crew for our FMM 214 capstone project, I had the unique opportunity to contribute to both the preproduction and production phases of our film. The journey began in preproduction, where we held several planning meetings to discuss the mood, tone, and look we wanted to achieve. Lighting played a major role in this conversation, as it helps set the visual language of a film. During this phase, I worked closely with the director and cinematographer to design a lighting plan that would complement each scene's emotional atmosphere.

We focused on two major types of lighting for our shoot: key light and fill light. The key light served as the primary source of illumination, helping us shape the characters and bring focus to their expressions and movements. We positioned it carefully in every shot to ensure that it gave the scene depth and drama without being too harsh or unrealistic.

The fill light helped us reduce the shadows cast by the key light, creating a more balanced and natural look. In some emotional scenes, we reduced the fill to create contrast and intensity. This careful balance between light and shadow gave our shots a cinematic feel and added visual interest.

Our first shoot on July 22, 2025, went smoothly thanks to thorough planning and teamwork. As the lighting operator, I was responsible for setting up and adjusting the lights according to the scene requirements. I also ensured safety on set, especially around electrical equipment.

We're now preparing for our next shoot on August 4, 2025, and I plan to apply everything I’ve learned so far to make our visuals even stronger. Lighting has truly brought our story to life.