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

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

09/10/2026

Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026

September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026 New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

29/09/2026

Oak View Group Names Cisco as Official Technology Partner

Oak View Group (OVG) has announced Cisco as an Official Technology Partner, with plans to standardize infrastructure across its venue network on Cisco solutions...

29/09/2026

SportsNet Pittsburgh Wins Three Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards

SportsNet Pittsburgh (SNP) won three honors at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. Program awards went to Bucs BP in the Sports Program Live category (produced ...

29/09/2026

CBC, PWHL Revive Hockey Night in Canada' on Saturdays

The Professional Women's Hockey League has announced home openers for all 12 teams for the 2026-27 season, along with a broadcast partnership with CBC under...

29/09/2026

Manifold Technologies Recognized as MXL Contributor Following IBC Innovation Award

Manifold technologies has been recognized as a contributor to the Media eXchange...

29/09/2026

Fubo Launches My Local Sports RSN Add-On Package

FuboTV has announced My Local Sports, allowing subscribers in select markets to add their local regional sports network (RSN) as an add-on to a Fubo Sports subs...

29/09/2026

ANI Deploys Grass Valley AMPP and Framelight X for News Operations

Asian News International (ANI), a wire agency and video news provider based in India, has deployed Grass Valley's AMPP Media Operating System and Framelight...

29/09/2026

SABC Deploys Ikegami UHK-X600 Cameras for IP-Based Production

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has deployed Ikegami UHK-X600 cameras as part of an upgrade to IP-based production infrastructure. The deployment ...

29/09/2026

Busy in Bristol: ESPN Headquarters Come Alive With New Studio W, Remote-Production Workflows

REMI, REMCO models will drive the bulk of the broadcaster's NHL productions ...

29/09/2026

NASCAR Productions' Keith D'Alessandro on the Continued Evolution of Its Centralized Production Hub

Three years in, the facility is supporting more centralized race production, com...

29/09/2026

NBC Sports Brings Robust Sunday Night Baseball Production Playbook to MLB Wild Card Round

NBC, Peacock, and NBSN are carrying all four Wild Card series with a production ...

29/09/2026

Sundance Institute Announces 2026 Doc Fund Grantees

19 Nonfiction Projects Across All Stages of Production to Receive More Than $1 million in Support as Documentary Film Program Approaches 25th Anniversary LOS ...

29/09/2026

Zynaptiq introduce Loud & Wide

Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...

29/09/2026

Wes Audio unveil the ngOmniBox

All-in-one bus processor revealed Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...

29/09/2026

First Baptist Nashville Drastically Upgrades Production Communications with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......

29/09/2026

Fubo TV Launches My Local Sports'

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

ARRI Targets Content Creators with New HONOR Smartphone

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

Asian News International Enhances Workflow with Grass Valley AMPP, FramelightX

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

SABC Chooses Ikegami UHK-X600 Cameras to Support IP Studio Transition

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

SABC Upgrades to IP-Based Production with Ikegami UHK-X60...

Ikegami announces that the South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has chosen Ikegami UHK-X600 camera systems as part of an advance to IP-based operation ...

29/09/2026

Blendkit Offers 20% Discount to Celebrate Crossing 150K Asset Milestone

Blendkit Offers 20% Discount to Celebrate Crossing 150K Asset Milestone Brie Clayton September 29, 2026 0 Comments Blendkit, the largest 3D asset libr...

29/09/2026

Ease Live Reports over 75 Million Interactive Sessions Du...

Interactive streaming specialist Ease Live supported more than 76.5 million fan sessions across three major European media operators during this summers FIFA Wo...

29/09/2026

Ease Live to monetise key moments in live sports

Ease Live has added support for VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) to its graphical overlay technology, opening up new ways for broadcasters, streamers and rights...

29/09/2026

Rise AV launches awards celebrating the women advocates a...

Rise AV has announced the launch of the inaugural Rise AV Awards, a new global awards programme celebrating the women, advocates and organisations across the AV...

29/09/2026

Netflix Deploys Advanced Sony PTZ Cameras For Wonka's The Golden Ticket' Production

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

Massachusetts Broadcasters Association Names Gene Lavanchy 2026 Broadcaster of the Year

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

ESPN Reports Its Most-Watched WNBA Regular Season

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

Scripps Taps Digital News Veteran Sean McGarvy to Lead News Strategy

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

Gray Raises Political Ad Revenue Estimates

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

Edward Czarnecki Uses Game Theory to Assess ATSC 3.0 Transition Policies

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

29/09/2026

First Baptist Nashville Drastically Upgrades Production C...

Clear-Com announced that First Baptist Nashville has upgraded its production communications with a Clear-Com intercom solution as part of a comprehensive sanct...

29/09/2026

Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Captured Action Shots for Sketch

Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Captured Action Shots for Sketch Brie Clayton September 28, 2026 0 Comments Camera's portable design and dynamic range...

29/09/2026

Kean Production Services Deploys AJA ColorBox to Deliver Consistent, Accurate Color Across In-venue Displays at Live Events

Kean Production Services Deploys AJA ColorBox to Deliver Consistent, Accurate Co...

29/09/2026

Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards

Berklee Alumni and Faculty Nominated for the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards A total of 28 Berklee alumni and faculty earned nominations across 20 categories this ye...

29/09/2026

Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop

Berklee's K-Pop & Beyond Explores Connections Between K-Pop and Hip-Hop Now in its fifth year, the series brings together artists, industry leaders, and s...

29/09/2026

The energy transition will only succeed if it lasts

We tend to think we live in a digital world, with hopes and fears around artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, data centres and the next big technolo...

29/09/2026

Apple releases new guide to help families build healthy digital habits - UPDATE - Posted on 29 September 2026

Today, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Apple relea...

29/09/2026

Final Cut Camera now supports variable aperture on iPhone\u00A018\u00A0Pro - UPDATE - Posted on 29 September 2026

Final Cut Camera, the professional filming app for iPhone, receives a major upda...

29/09/2026

RT lyric fm launch the hunt for Choirs for Christmas

RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...

28/09/2026

NHL Names Adobe as an Official Creative, Marketing and AI Partner

The NHL has announced Adobe as an Official Creative, Marketing and AI Partner beginning with the 2026-27 season. The partnership will provide the league and its...

28/09/2026

MultiDyne to Showcase Expanded Portfolio Including MRMC Robotics at CABSAT 2026

MultiDyne will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (October 5-7, Dubai Exhibition Centre), showcasing an expanded technology portfolio following its June 2026 acquisition of...

28/09/2026

ARRI and HONOR Launch Co-Branded HONOR Magic9 Pro Max

ARRI and HONOR have announced the HONOR Magic9 Pro Max, a flagship smartphone carrying ARRI branding on the device and packaging as the first product-level expr...

28/09/2026

Net Insight Adds Nimbra 1020G to Pan-Asian Live Media Trial Network

Net Insight has added the Nimbra 1020G to its pan-Asian live media trial network, giving customers and partners in the region a way to evaluate ST 2110 and JPEG...

28/09/2026

Vindral Named Recipient of 2026 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award

Vindral has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology and Engineering Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the category of We...

28/09/2026

Interra Systems to Demonstrate QC and Monitoring Portfolio at CABSAT 2026

Interra Systems will exhibit at CABSAT 2026 (Stand B2-37, Dubai Exhibition Centre, October 5-7), demonstrating its BATON QC platform, ORION monitoring solutions...

28/09/2026

PGA TOUR's Michael Raimondo on Agentic Production, ShotLink Automation, and the Evolution of PGA TOUR Studios

Two years into its new production facility, the TOUR is expanding centralized wo...