Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

DoP Ramsay Uses Astera to Light the Intimate Emotion of G...

16/04/2025

When international cinematographer Jamie Ramsay was brought on to lens independent feature film Goodrich, he faced a unique lighting challenge. Shot on location in Los Angeles, the contemporary story of a father unexpectedly dropped into single parenthood, heavily features a mid-century modern house brimming with glass and sharp architectural lines. Ramsay choose Astera lights to balance the needs of this tricky location while adhering to the strict lighting standards of the film's A-listers, Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis.

Goodrich is the melancholic journey of self-discovery and forgiveness centered around the nuances of a father-daughter relationship, describes Ramsay. Art dealer Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) reaches out to his 36-year-old daughter Grace (Mila Kunis) for help with her nine-year old half siblings, while he grapples with his second wife's trip to a rehab program and the impending failure of his art gallery. Collaborating closely with director/writer Hallie Meyers Shyre, Ramsay set out to align the film's visual tone with its emotional core.

Inspired by the architecture of the Los Angeles filming locations, the cinematographer sought ways to incorporate geometric light and shadow. One of the chief locations in the film is Michael Keaton's house a beautiful mid-century modern structure built by a Japanese architect. An incredible feat of design, the location was rich with angular surfaces that invited ever-changing daylight and reflective glass surfaces which might easily catch stands or equipment. Because Michael's character is an artist in his own right, I wanted the way light interacted with the house's glass facades and hard angles to become part of the storytelling.

Working with gaffer Alex Gaynor, the cinematographer designed a plan to make liberal use of Astera Titan and Helios Tubes. Comprised of 8 pixels which can be individually colored, flashed and programmed from the Astera App, the Titan Tube (40.7 x 1.7 /1035mm x 43mm) and smaller Helios Tube (21.7 x 1.7 /550mm x 43mm) are highly controllable and versatile LEDs.

We rigged two-foot and four-foot Astera Tubes hidden across the many little pockets, angles and corners of the home, the cinematographer describes. They are battery-powered, and we could control everything remotely. It saved us so much time. The compact size, wireless functionality, and versatile mounting options of the Titan and Helios Tubes allowed Ramsay and his team to discreetly illuminate scenes without intruding on the performers' space or catching reflections off the glass surfaces.

Cast at the level of Michael and Mila need enough time to do what they do. Which meant we needed to be resourceful with our time setting the scene. With a tight production schedule, Astera fixtures became indispensable for creating beautiful aesthetic lighting while navigating the logistical challenges of the shoot. With our small LED package, we could create the mood that I wanted as a cinematographer without infringing on cast with the equipment footprint.

This setup was especially critical for night scenes, where subtle, controlled lighting was necessary to maintain the film's intimate tone. One pivotal moment in Goodrich features Mila Kunis quietly reflecting on photographs of her father's new family. It's bittersweet as the oldest daughter, she has kind of lost her dad to these two younger kids. Ramsay used Helios Tubes to create a gentle firelight effect, with additional hidden units providing soft cosmetic fill and subtle backlight.

The scene, rich with unspoken emotion, relies on the delicate lighting to enhance the narrative without overwhelming the performance. The small footprint of the Astera fixtures let us build the mood without crowding the space, Ramsay recalled. It gave the actors freedom to move naturally, which supported the authenticity of their performances.

The cinematographer also made use of LunaBulbs, the lightbulb lookalike LED from Astera, which screws directly into an AC-wired bulb socket for fully controllable, flicker-free lighting. With its covert shape, the crew placed LunaBulbs as on set practical fixtures, even replacing dozens of bulbs in decorative table centerpieces to illuminate a restaurant scene.

Key to executing this lighting strategy was Ramsay's partnership with gaffer Alex Gaynor. Together, they developed a dynamic workflow, pre-rigging scenes and adjusting placements on the fly as blocking evolved. The adaptability of the Astera fixtures, combined with their quick setup time, kept the production moving smoothly despite a tight six-week schedule. The technology worked in tandem with the creative process, Ramsay said. With the AsteraApp, we could tweak color temperature, brightness, and intensity in seconds. That flexibility was invaluable.

For Ramsay, Goodrich is a testament to the power of modern lighting technology in crafting compelling visual narratives. By integrating Astera Tubes into his toolkit, he achieved a level of agility and precision that allowed the film's emotional beats to shine through. I believe that every space and every moment exists naturally in a perfect way. So, the way that I like to light is to find that hyperreal natural moment and try to propagate that expression.

The right tools can make all the difference. Astera lights helped us tell this story in a way that felt honest, intimate, and visually striking. In Goodrich, light wasn't just a technical necessity; it was an active participant in the storytelling, shaping the atmosphere and supporting the performances. And for Ramsay, that fusion of artistry and innovation is exactly what filmmaking is all about.

Goodrich is available to watch now on MAX.

For more about Astera : astera-led.com
LINK: https://kitplus.com/news/dop-ramsay-uses-astera-to-light-the-intimate-...
See more stories from tvbay

More from TV-Bay

13/05/2025

Bolin Technology Announces Partnership with DigiBox

Bolin Technology, producers of professional PTZ cameras and AV over IP solutions today announced a new distribution partnership with DigiBox in the UK and Irela...

13/05/2025

Top LATAM Pay TV operator Zapping Sports Ecuador invests...

Leading South American internet subscription TV service provider Zapping Sports Ecuador has invested in a PlayBox Neo Channel-in-a-Box HD server to power its su...

13/05/2025

World-First in Digital Education as Encompass Connects UK...

Pioneering DRM-based Solution Delivers Interactive Learning to Schools Without Internet Access Encompass Digital Media has announced the completion of the worl...

13/05/2025

Techex and TAG Video Systems Partner to Transform IP Broa...

Techex, the UK-based expert in live video solutions over IP and cloud, will showcase its latest advances in software-defined broadcast technology at the Media P...

13/05/2025

Alfalite to showcase advanced LED solutions for Virtual P...

Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, will participate in CABSAT 2025 (May 13 15, Dubai World Trade Centre) to present its latest innovations...

13/05/2025

BroadcastAsia 2025 - Leader to present groundbreaking LPX...

Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics, will showcase its LPX500 Quad-input Waveform Monitor, featuring 100G-IP and 12G-SDI toolsets, at BroadcastAsia...

12/05/2025

DHD to Showcase its Advanced Digital Audio Production Equ...

Following a successful mid-April NAB Show in Las Vegas, DHD will promote examples from its wide range of digital audio content creation products at the upcoming...

12/05/2025

DP David McFarland Illuminates Netflix Testament with Ast...

With a body of international award-winning and premier festival-showing films, American Cinematographer David McFarland ( 12 Mighty Orphans , Mafak , The Ball...

09/05/2025

Wooden Camera Launches Accessories for the Blackmagic URS...

Wooden Camera, a leading innovator in camera accessories, is proud to announce the launch of a new line of products for the Blackmagic URSA Cine Cameras. These ...

09/05/2025

LYNX Technik Expands Series 5000 Platform with New 12G-SD...

LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions is expanding its popular Series 5000 platform with three new 12G-SDI cards. The new cards provide ...

09/05/2025

Pebble migrates ON TV to new technology platform

Pebble, the leading automation, content management and integrated channel specialist, has completed a project to migrate ON TV, the major independent broadcaste...

09/05/2025

NUGEN Audio Unveils DialogCheck Speech Intelligibility So...

NUGEN Audio launches its new speech intelligibility plug-in, DialogCheck. A mono, stereo and multichannel dialog clarity meter, the software provides an objecti...

09/05/2025

Disguise to Showcase Turnkey Solutions at Middle Easts To...

Disguise the technology platform and solutions provider that powered MDL Beast Soundstorm 2024, Dubai Expo's Al Wasl Dome and visual displays at the Burj ...

09/05/2025

CVP Brings Cutting-Edge Broadcast Live Production and Stu...

CVP has announced it will demonstrate its cutting-edge broadcast, live production and studio solutions at MPTS 2025. Taking place at Olympia London from 14th - ...

09/05/2025

Mediagenix and White Peaks Solutions Team Up to Power Sha...

Mediagenix, a global leader in smart content solutions to profitably connect the right content to the right audience, and White Peaks Solutions, the prominent e...

09/05/2025

SportsEngine Play Extends Award-Winning Collaboration Wit...

SportsEngine Play, the first-of-its-kind streaming service for youth sports, has agreed to a multi-year extension with AI-automated sports content leader, Pixel...

09/05/2025

TOD by beIN goes live with Friend MTS to tackle piracy in...

Friend MTS, a leading global provider of content protection services, today announced that TOD, the premier sports and entertainment OTT subscription service fo...

09/05/2025

ZEISS Demos One-Click Virtual Lens Tech for VFX and Compo...

ZEISS announces that it is in development on a new virtual lens technology that will allow visual effects and compositing artists to apply an authentic lens loo...

09/05/2025

Cerberus Tech at MPTS Unifying Cloud and On-Premises Cont...

At the 2025 Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS), Cerberus Tech will showcase the latest major enhancement to its Livelink IP video delivery platform the...

08/05/2025

TAG Video Systems Appoints Paul Maroni as Vice President...

TAG Video Systems, the leader in software-based IP end-to-end workflow monitoring, deep probing, and real time visualization, has named Paul Maroni as Vice Pres...

08/05/2025

BroadcastAsia 2025 Showcases Best of British Innovation

This year's UK Pavilion in hall 5, once again managed by Tradefair, will provide visitors with the unique opportunity to discuss and be involved in cutting ...

08/05/2025

Rohde & Schwarz to highlight innovative broadcast technol...

Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its latest energy-efficient transmitters and 5G Broadcast technologies, designed to support network operators and content provider...

07/05/2025

Peter Barber appointed new Chief Executive Officer at Ato...

Atomos announced an executive leadership transition as the Company continues to evolve and expand its strategic focus. Peter Barber, currently serving as Chie...

07/05/2025

Steadicam Vol Honored with AMPAS 2025 Scientific and Tech...

Steve Wagner, Jerry Holway and Robert Orf at the 2024 Scientific and Technical Awards at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The ...

07/05/2025

nxtedition and TASCAM bring precision audio control to TV...

nxtedition, the Swedish company behind the leading integrated platform for news and program production, and TASCAM, the iconic Japanese manufacturer of professi...

07/05/2025

Signiant Brings Real-Time Camera Raw-to-Cloud Innovation...

Signiant is bringing its Camera-Raw-to-Any-Cloud workflow to the UK for the first time at the Media Production & Technology Show 2025 (Booth# M69) with a live d...

07/05/2025

MNC Software extends its global reach with Gencom Technol...

MNC Software Inc., a global leader in software and network solutions tailored to the broadcast and media industry, has appointed Gencom Technology as an officia...

07/05/2025

Rise AV Announces Inaugural UK Cohort for 2025 Mentoring...

Rise AV, the award-winning advocacy group championing gender diversity and professional development in the AV sector, is proud to announce 31 mentor-mentee pair...

07/05/2025

Leader to show Test and Measurement solutions for workflo...

Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics of Europe, is to bring a selection of its leading products for IP, SDI and hybrid workflow requirements to this...

07/05/2025

World Skills Cafe Returns at IBC2025 with Expanded Talent...

The Global Media and Entertainment Talent Manifesto announces that the World Skills Caf will return at IBC2025 with an expanded skills and diversity programme,...

07/05/2025

Moments Lab and LucidLink Expand AI-Powered Workflow Inte...

Moments Lab, a leader in AI video discovery, and LucidLink, the pioneer in real-time cloud collaboration, are proud to announce the integration of Moments Lab&#...

06/05/2025

Pixel Power Brings Updated Brand, Playout, Automation and...

Pixel Power, a Rohde & Schwarz company, will showcase nearly 40-years of expertise and dedication to the media industry during MPTS at London's Olympia on t...

05/05/2025

Witbe at CABSAT 2025 Post-Device Testing and Real-Time Mo...

Witbe (Euronext Growth FR0013143872 ALWIT), a leading provider of post-device monitoring and automated testing solutions for video service providers, is gea...

05/05/2025

Ikegami UHL-X40 Ultra-Compact 4K-UHD Camera to Make MEA M...

Ikegami Electronics (Europe) will demonstrate recent additions to its range of broadcast cameras and picture monitors on Stand AR-G10 at the May 13th-15th 2025 ...

05/05/2025

VisualOn Optimizer with C21 Live Encoder-Setting a New Be...

Cires21 has partnered with VisualOn to integrate the award-winning VisualOn Optimizer into its live encoding workflows. At NAB 2025, the two companies demonstra...

02/05/2025

Riedel Communications Expands Asia-Pacific Presence with...

Riedel Communications, a global leader in real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Hong ...

02/05/2025

How PFX Delivered 750 VFX Shots in Just Four Months For A...

Since 2012, VES Award-winning studio PFX has delivered visual effects for projects from Napoleon to Stranger Things, but a thriller set inside a car is a fi...

02/05/2025

TAG Video Systems Teams with Techex at MPTS 2025 to Showc...

TAG Video Systems will unveil its latest innovations at MPTS 2025 in Booth A31-32, alongside technology partner Techex. TAG's Realtime Media Platform will b...

02/05/2025

Glensound Showcases New Innovations in Audio Solutions at...

Glensound, a leader in high-quality audio systems, is bringing the latest additions to its portfolio of intercom, commentary and eSports audio solutions to MPTS...

02/05/2025

OpenDrives Earns Three Awards Across the M and E Industry...

OpenDrives, Inc., a leading provider of software-defined data storage and data services solutions, is proud to announce that its Atlas software-defined storage ...

02/05/2025

FOR-A Brings Award-Winning Broadcast Innovation to Broadc...

FOR-A, a cutting-edge video broadcast technology company backed by more than 50 years experience, will showcase its innovative broadcast solutions at BroadcastA...

02/05/2025

LucidLink Returns to MPTS 2025 Driving the Future of Post...

LucidLink, the storage collaboration platform for enterprise creative teams, will return to the Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS) on May 14 15, 2025, at...

02/05/2025

Pebble Showcases Advanced Playout Solutions at CABSAT 202...

Pebble will be showcasing its proven playout solutions at CABSAT 2025 (Dubai World Trade Centre, 13-15 May). With 25 years of expertise in the broadcast industr...

02/05/2025

Encompass and Zixi partner to transform BBC World Service...

Encompass Digital Media is leading transformation of the BBC World Service's global distribution from satellite to IP-based delivery. The initiative, which ...

30/04/2025

The Avit Group Elevates Audio-visual Experiences with Mar...

The Avit Group, a forward-thinking audio-visual technology company, is bringing over 50 years of combined experience in delivering audio-visual design and insta...

30/04/2025

NXTGENbps brings portable, sustainable battery solutions...

NXTGENbps will be showcasing its latest sustainable battery power solutions at this year's Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS), appearing alongside pa...

30/04/2025

Van Dyke Scores Hit with Hockey Comedy Shoresy Shot on Ze...

Van Dyke skates and operates on Shoresy | photo by Dave Ferguson Toronto-based Cinematographer Brett Van Dyke (Heartland, Jann, Carter) stepped into the rink...

30/04/2025

PlayBox Neo presents Next-Generation Smart Media Solution...

Leading provider of media playout solutions PlayBox Neo will exhibit a vast array of significant upgrades to its range of smart media innovations at CABSAT from...

30/04/2025

QuickLink StudioEdge Transforms Remote Contributions for...

ITV Studios is renowned for its award-winning productions, including the reality TV phenomenon I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Produced by Lifted Ente...

30/04/2025

UK Pavilion exhibitors continue to impact at CABSAT and S...

The UK's presence at this year's CABSAT brings together 20 innovative companies under the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland banner. From advanced infra...