This project was shot at Essanay Studios in Chicago. Essanay was founded in 1907 and played a vital role in the early film production scene. The studio probably best known for a series of comedies starring Charlie Chaplin in 1915. Chaplin left Essanay after only one year because he didn't like the weather in Chicago. Can't say I blame him!
The goal of this project was to match footage that was shot in the UK a couple weeks prior. It was fun to work in the studio with big tungsten fresnels. Most of the time I’m using HMI and LED sources. The power draw was massive with over 43,000 watts and total current at about 196 amps. This wouldn’t be my go-to setup for a relatively simple look, but it is interesting to see how other people choose to approach different scenes
There's something kind of romantic about shooting in a historic studio using Mole Richardson tungsten lights that are almost as old as the space itself. The approach to lighting this set was different than most I encounter in the 21st century and I'm thankful I was able to share this experience with a great team.
DP: Andy Stegmeyer @ Thunderlab
Tyler Kaschke is a freelance gaffer based in Lafayette, Colorado serving Boulder, Denver, Golden, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and the Rocky Mountain region at large.