Over the course of almost a year Isidingo on SABC3 ((weekdays, 19:30) has not just become the best lit soap - it's become the overall TV show in South Africa boasting the best lighting.
Bright. Breezy. And brilliant: With the addition of the sparkly new Sibeko family to the soap some incredible lighting changes was introduced.
While the average viewers might not notice, Isidingo has been sending a subtle but strong messsage: weekday soaps don't need to look laundry room grainy, dark and dingy; studio based television in South Africa doesn't need to look bargain-basement third-world cheap; brilliant incandescant and bright light is possible if you try.
TV with Thinus asked Gray Hofmeyr, Isidingo, associate producer and Derek Butow, lighting designer on the Endemol SA produced show about the incredible lighting transformation on the show.
Isidingo is by far the South African soap with the best lighting on television. Is it just a style function – for instance because the brightness and light factor is needed ot be like that – or is it because Isidingo makes use of superior or different lighting equipment or techniques or skill?
Gray Hofmeyr: It is a function primarily of style and creative talent of the lighting designer. Over recent months we have put a lot of effort into making the lighting ''prettier''. At the end of 2010 we felt that the lighting had slipped into something too dark.
Derek Butow: In my humble opinion, I think that the lighting is too bright by today's standard however it was a request from the channel that Isidingo's lighting levels be brighter. As for the equipment that we use, it is 30 years old at least and one needs to be creative in the way one uses it. To that end I am using large (5KW) lamps that are soften with filters to give the soft look but a strong source feel, and because the furnishings are white it helps to bounce and soften light as well.
The lighting of especially the Sibeko highrise enclave looks incredibly amazing – or is it just an optical illusion? It seems bright but soft with an incredible resemblance to ''natural sunlight'' and a very ''high gloss'' yet natural look. It's incredibly close to how American primetime shows lit their dramas also filmed deep inside dark studios. How is the lighting requirements or lighting for the Sibiko sets different about how it's usually done?
Derek Butow: Thanks for your compliment, there is actually very little structure within the set to light unlike most traditional sets, this one is primary of glass - so the backdrop scenery is what creates the feel. Even though there is little space for lighting to us, it does set the overall mood for the scenes. Therefore the trick is to light the interior to match the feel of the exterior.
In what way is the lighting as seen on TV, setting Isidingo apart from the way other soaps are lit - for instance, how does the lighting help to create the mood and atmosphere in general and what does it want to try and help convey regarding Isidingo?
Gray Hofmeyr: The set of the Sibeko home itself contributes a lot – the large amount of windows. Yes, this family represent everything that is classy and beautiful, so the set and the lighting should enhance that.
Derek Butow: Isidingo has always been more of a drama than a soap and therefore the lighting must help portray the drama, so the lighting, with difficulty, tends to bend towards film rather than TV soap.
What are some of the challenges or creative operational things that viewers won't know about lighting Isidingo to get it to look so much more ''incandesant light than flourescent light'' seen on all the other studio based soaps?
Derek Butow: The lighting is more toward film style (drama) than traditional television. However this is at odds with the television style of shooting, for instance filming multi-camera scenes.
Therefore it's a constant struggle to balance the two, because what works on one camera angle definitely will not work on the other and so a lot of tricks based on a mixture of experience and chance and negotiation with the director is required.
As for the''incandesant lighting'' it is a requirement to achieve a more dramatic feel to the lighting both for mood and source, for instance exterior lighting for interior, that fluorescent just cannot provide.
