This class which will cover the basics of Electrical Theory for the Set Lighting Technician. We will cover conductors, insulators, electromagnetism, AC & DC power generation, transformers, parallel; series circuits, overcurrent protection, Ohm's Law, and more.

Complex power systems using LED, Moving Light, and Dimming Technology can have significant advanced power issues. This course will draw on experiences from our Rigging Gaffers to illustrate why these problems occur, when to expect them, and how to avoid them.

With the constant influx of new lighting technology, Power Quality is more important than ever. Non-linear loads and low power factor devices can introduce harmonics and other issues into our distribution systems that can wreak havoc with electronic devices and cause issues with our power runs.

This class will focus on safely and effectively rigging & operating your electrical system in, and in the vicinity of water. By using real-life scenarios, we will be discussing how to avoid the pitfalls and problems of working around water, including using a tiered GFCI system.

All About Power Calculations: single-phase, 3-phase, balanced and unbalanced.

This is Richard Cadena's complete 14-hour class on Entertainment Electrics from start to finish.

Proper grounding and bonding practices are essential to a safe electrical system yet they are often the most misunderstood aspect of electrical safety. Join Richard Cadena as he explains the "hows" and "whys" of grounding and bonding in portable electrical distribution systems.

 

This introductory course establishes a base level of knowledge of electrical theory for entertainment professionals who work with portable power distribution systems. This course is designed to complement Local 728's Electricity 101 class.

Article 530 (Motion Picture/Television Studios and Similar Locations) of the National Electrical Code is being revised this year. Local 728 is taking a leadership role in this revision and your feedback is essential. Please join us and give us feedback and ideas.

 

Article 530 of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) governs the use of portable power distribution systems for motion picture/television studios and similar locations. This code cycle, a complete revision of Article 530 has been proposed.

We have been fortunate to have Richard Cadena as part of our Training Program. Over these past few weeks, he has been asked some interesting questions that have either been "put in the parking lot" or he thought others might like to hear.

Join Jeff Ravitz and other LDs for a discussion about the art of lighting and bringing your vision to life. Jeff's body of work spans from musical tours Bruce Springsteen, architectural lighting, and live event television.

Want to know how you would do on the ETCP Exam without the stress? One of the largest hurdles to achieving the ETCP Certification is the physical act of taking the exam.

Working with digital cameras can create unique color challenges that may or may not be consistent when using different cameras or lighting equipment. This makes having a solid understanding of color theory important to all of us who handle and set up this gear, not just Programmers or CLTs.

Interested in becoming ETCP Certified?

The PRG GroundControl™ Followspot System gives a followspot operator the freedom to remotely operate a high output automated luminaire as a followspot from up to 2,000 feet away.

Join our panel of CLTs and Department Heads as we discuss the possibilities and challenges of working in the COVID-19 world.

This week's Showcase Panel will be Cowboys & Aliens with Mike Bauman and Scott Barnes.

This online forum will be for CLTs to get together and provide feedback on technical issues they are facing on set.

Lean Manufacturing, also known as the Toyota Production system, was developed by Toyota to make cars faster, cheaper, and with less defects. They put their faith in their employees and gave them the ability to change things from the bottom up to make this happen.

In today's world of Safety & Training, things are changing on on daily basis. Join us on Friday afternoons to catch up on the latest on what is happening.

Join ACLTs from both TV and film as they provide a broad overview of the duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Chief Lighting Technician. This will be an opportunity to both learn and network with your brothers and sisters.

HMI Lights are used commonly on set but there is much more to using them than plugging them in and striking the lamp.

Remote Follow Spots are becoming very popular in several areas of our industry.

****SIGNUPS WILL OPEN FOR THIS CLASS ON JUNE 16 AT 9:00AM****

Being an ACLT requires a lot of knowledge and skill across a broad spectrum of topics.

The workload of the ACLT is complex which requires note-taking, planning, record-keeping, communication, budget & inventory management, and project & personnel management.  Digital tools are an essential part of the tool kit.

The role of the Rigging CLT has changed dramatically in the past few years.

This session will review the entire control capabilites of the SkyPanel

This class will give the novice solderer basic skills and knowledge to build up their skills where they can work as part of a crew on larger projects.

Soldering and LED Assembly skills are essential for Fixture Technicians and many other jobs within our jurisdiction. This seminar will give you the opportunity to ask questions and see demonstrations by experts in the craft.

 

In addition to simple plotting and 2D/3D modeling, Vectorworks is capable of photo-realistic renderings which can help sell lighting concepts to directors, cinematographers and clients.

This class focuses on advanced skills working in the 3D Vectorworks environment, focusing on understanding and practicing control and management of the subtleties of working planes. Every object created within the Vectorworks Spotlight 3D environment has a relationship to a working plane.

This course is designed to support the creative process using both paid and free Vectorworks tools and is intended for both artistic creativity and the creative planning of complex rigs and fixture layouts.

The Basic Vectorworks Spotlight Lab will consist of a section of instruction on particular aspects of the program appropriate for users new to the program.

SUMMARY

This hands-on project-based workshop provides an advanced exploration of professional skills with virtual and augmented presentation workflows in Vectorworks Spotlight Design Software.

This combination of the Vectorworks 101 and 102 class is suited to members who are new to Vectorworks and those with a basic understanding who would like to strengthen the foundation of their knowledge.

This class focuses on advanced skills working in the 3D Vectorworks environment, focusing on understanding and practicing control and management of the subtleties of working planes. Every object created within the Vectorworks Spotlight 3D environment has a relationship to a working plane.

Starting from the Basics, this class will take the attendee through the process of learning the Vectorworks Software to a point where they are comfortable using it for set.

ArtNet and Streaming-ACN are DMX control protocols that work over TCP/IP. Most newer consoles and advanced lighting equipment are using these protocols to ensure control reliability.

There are two ways to sign up for our Control Protocols Classes. If you wish to signup for all 4 classes, please sign up using this page. If you only want to sign up for some, but not all of the classes then sign up for each individual class.

This class provides advanced instruction beyond the Ethernet Protocols 101A classes using lighting equipment found on set.

Need to know more about setting up and troubleshooting ethernet rigs but don't want to be a full-fledged network technician?

We are happy to announce that we will be presenting our Lighting Control Protocols Suite of classes July 25 - July 28. You can sign-up for them in one of two ways: either as the full suite or individual classes if you only need to brush up in a few areas. The class schedule is as follows:

This class integrates all of the Control Systems Protocols classes and provides instructions for planning and installing complex systems.

RDM (Remote Device Management) allows compatible devices to communicate over existing DMX equipment to provide two-way communications for configuration, monitoring and system setup.RDM will allow the programmer to discover, configure, and monitor any RDM-enabled device from the lighting console.

ArtNet and Streaming-ACN are DMX control protocols that work over TCP/IP. Most newer consoles and advanced lighting equipment are using these protocols to ensure control reliability.

This class is the extension of the Wireless DMX class and focuses on hands-on usage of wireless DMX equipment. 

Our sets are becoming more and more dependent on large and complex Lighting Control Systems. Individual control of over 1000 different lights is becoming common. These complex lighting control systems can save hours of set up time each day when they are installed and managed properly.

This two-part class is being provided for Local 728 members by City Theatrical.

This class is for members who have worked with or have taken our Wireless Lighting Control classes and would like to update on the latest technology or refresh their knowledge.

This class is for the Control System Technician, Rigging Technicians and ACLTs who will be ordering equipment, assembling the rigs, and/or doing location scouts.  As we are all very aware, not all equipment is compatible.

Integrating LED lights with the modern digital camera can create some unique challenges that may or may not repeat themselves with similar cameras or lights. This session will cover the visible color spectrum and how it relates to both the human eye and camera sensors.

Discussion and demonstration of MIMIK, the full spectrum onset image-based lighting tile from Kino Flo. Discussion of various implementation processes. Tutorial on the Helios processor. How to synchronize MIMIK to a volume and genlock to camera.

LED technology has great advantages to our CLTs and fixture technicians. These low voltage, low profile, light sources can be assembled into small spaces and devices where conventional lighting is not possible.

This class focuses on advancing the skills learned in the LED Assembly Technician 101A class though more focused hands on work. The LED Assembly Technician 101A class or permission of the instructor is required prior to taking this class.

Color temperature has always been important to the motion picture/television industry but with the advent of LED technology and digital cameras, it is more important than ever.

This first part of the class will cover pixel theory, pixel driver properties, the driving force and need for the RuPixel system, and how to set up and use the system.

This class focuses on advancing the skills learned in the LED Assembly Technician 101 class though more focused hands on work. The LED Assembly Technician 101 class or permission of the instructor is required prior to taking this class.

LED technology has great advantages to our CLTs and fixture technicians. These low voltage, low profile, light sources can be assembled into small spaces and devices where conventional lighting is not possible.

Local 728 is once again doing what it was said couldn''t be done and offering our LED Assembly Technician/Soldering Lab Online. This is a pilot class and will be limited in size with a few requirements.

Cloud balloons used for both lighting and diffusion are becoming more common and we often find ourselves filling, rigging, and working these balloons with our Local 80 Brothers and Sisters.

Balloon Lighting Technicians are in demand and this class will give you the hands-on training to familiarize yourself with the function and operation of Lighting Balloons.

This hands-on class will focus on the essentials of working with moving lights including: storage and handling; access to internal components and cleaning; knowing when to clean vs return; working in the menus; "hidden" features (such as using a moving light as a node); basic upkeep and replacing

Chain motors and truss are becoming common on our sets. While the rigging of chain motors and trussing is frequently performed by Local 80 Grips, we are often hanging tons of lights, cable, and equipment on them.

This course focuses on techniques for safely and effectively rigging lighting systems in vehicles with non-traditional cameras such as the GoPro. This class will cover using portable generators, battery systems, and control systems frequently used on these vehicles.

Local 80 is holding a class on Industry Rescue and is inviting Local 728 members to join the class. This class is all about the rescue of someone who has fallen from height, is being suspended by their Fall Protection, and there is no access or availability from below with a lift.

Dimmers are an essential part of our electrical distribution systems with many of our sets and stages routinely having several hundred. Technology is constantly evolving to include forward-phase, reverse-phase, and sine wave dimming technology.

The electrical power source is the beginning (and the end) of the electrical circuit. Understanding the source of the electricity is essential to working with it effectively.

Want to know how you would do on the ETCP Exam without the stress? One of the largest hurdles to achieving the ETCP Certification is the physical act of taking the exam.

This seminar will provide training on advanced topics facing the Set Lighting Technician.

Please join us for an open discussion of current issues affecting your present work and your future.

The LXBEams Drafting Lab - Advanced will provide ongoing opportunities for current LXBEams u

This class will provide basic instruction on how to use the LXBeams computer aided drawing software.  Similar to Vectorworks Spotlight, this software is specifically developed for the entertainment lighting industry.

In honor of all of the Americans who have served their country, and in particular those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to promote the promise of freedom and liberty, we will not be holding any events on Monday, May 25.

With the Motion Picture/Television Industry ramping back up (please make sure everyone you know wears their masks so we can all get back to work) we are going to slow down the pace of Skills Training Classes in July.

PHASE 1 of the Back to Work plan is (hopefully) nearly completed and it is time for PHASE 2 which focuses on our specific job duties and tasks. Several focus groups have been working pro-actively to address our concerns.

This is part two of the [Online] DMX Networking class. You must take the part one before taking this class.

As Local 728 moves training online, we will need constant feedback to know what is working, what can work better, and what isn't working. If you have taken advantage of some of our online trainings and want to share your experience, please join us!

This two day class builds on the skills learned in the L1 & L2 sessions.

ION Lighting Consoles are part of the ETC EOS Family of Lighting Controllers. These consoles are used to program everything from basic dimming systems on multicamera shows to high profile live television shows with extensive moving light rigs.

This two-day class is for members with programming experience who would like to broaden their capabilities by learning the GrandMA 2 Lighting Console. You must have a solid understanding of DMX Networking, previous programming experience, and a knowledge of TCP/IP protocol.

This class is specifically designed for grandMA2 programmers who want to transition to using the grandMA3. This is not an entry level course, so please only sign up if you have programming experience on the grandma2.

The Hog 4 lighting console is a popular lighting console for feature films that require immediate access to the lighting rigs. This two day class is suitable for the new programmer who is learning the ropes or a programmer who wants to review basic and intermediate skills.

Are you interested in becoming a programmer for the rigging department?

This class will focus on current skill-based issues that affect lighting programmers and how to avoid/solve them. The instructor will set-up a topic and examine ways to work around these issues on multiple platforms. This class will also provide time to examine specific problems and solutions.

Video-based lighting products are a valuable tool in the Gaffer’s pocket. This class is designed to show what video-based tools are available to enhance the lighting for set and is focused for gaffers, programmers, and aspiring media server techs.

This class will provide further instruction on Elation's ONYX Lighting Console, one of the most flexible and new lighting console families that are being found on our stages and sets.

This class is an entry level course designed to teach the fundamentals of being a lighting programmer. This is NOT a hands-on class.

LED walls and media servers have opened up new creative opportunities for CLTs, Programmers, and DP for lighting our sets.

This class will examine special techniques to wire and make electrical connections to fixtures that are rigged, hung, suspended, and otherwise installed on set.

The world of fixtures has quickly become a specialty within our ranks. No longer in the background, fixtures are an integral part of the lighting for production.

Are you passionate about SCUBA diving and interested in working as an Underwater Lighting Technician?

This class will focus on equipment used by the underwater lighting technician, an introduction to specialized techniques as well as other topics relating to work in water. We will be looking at dive gear and how to arrange it for optimal use as well as underwater lighting equipment.

This class will continue the in-water work and advance development of the technical skills required by the underwater lighting technician as well as advanced topics such as working with equipment underwater and the use of advanced dive equipment.

The Aquatic Mind with Andy Huber

Kick up your Vectorworks skills or just come and see what it is all about with this Programmers LAB panel discussion featuring LEN LEVINE and his amazing work on Drafting, Modeling and Visualization.