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Tim Goodacre relies on Astera

Tim Goodacre, a freelance gaffer and lighting specialist based in Sydney and working all over Australia, primarily on TV dramas, has invested steadily in Astera to help drive his business over the last two years, most recently purchasing one of the new LeoFresnel products from Astera’s Australian and New Zealand distributor ULA Group, which is added to his existing stock of AX3 Lightdrop and NYX Bulb kits and workhorse Astera Titan and Helios Tubes.

Goodacre immediately utilised the LeoFresnel on season two of the Netflix “Heartbreak High” reboot, specifically for a forest night scene shot on location with the Heartbreak High students camping out under the moonlight. In a different scenario, a moving light might conventionally be used, however the practicalities of the location demanded a wireless lighting solution. Goodacre rigged sixteen Titan Tubes on a “Moon Box” with the LeoFresnel positioned in the centre, which was hoisted above the action pointing right down with the LeoFresnel acting as a spotlight.

Controlled through the Astera app, the need for a board operator to run the moon-box was averted. Goodacre created different cues and looks which provided the moonlight and a cost-effective way of lighting the scene with a clearly defined central lightsource surrounded by shimmering light from the softened tubes which combined to produce the effect wanted by director Neil Sharma and DoP Campbell Brown.

Goodacre has also used Astera fixtures for night scenes along roads, in the bush and other “run-and-gun” situations without needing a generator, PD, cables and extensive prep time. He recalls a night beach scene on another project, always a galvanising place in to find lighting positions for soft sources, which in this case were needed to back-light three people. Here his water resistant LeoFresnel was rigged on a stand with an 8x4 bounce reflector attached that facilitated the creation of a soft source in the right place. He’s also used the LeoFresnel on comedy drama “Ladies in Black”, shot in Adelaide.

Goodacre says he will often use his AX3 LightDrops for quick deployment and architectural requirements, together with AX5s and AX9 LED PARs for general purpose lighting of buildings, sets and structures. The NYX Bulbs will be used for a myriad of set practical applications. Also, for cityscape effects like bokeh dots and twinkling lights in the background, run in festoon style in the distance with authentic and random looking “living, breathing” colours and looks dialled in just like a real city.

(Photos: Tim Goodacre/Josh McDowell)

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