Available Light

3 Cam shoot of a medical panel in San Diego I lit with my truck today.

Learn more about COVID safety on set. The guidelines simply make sense. The first certificate takes about 30 minutes, and the course is free.

A friend sent me this one from when we made a cat drive a police car.

Here's some shots from a commercial campaign I lit over Halloween-

My 'Rear Window'. Wonderful set tension breaker.

Lone Shine Stands Ready

12'x32' Cloud Cover

My latest column in 'Insider's Guide': How to build a smoke cannon- https://s3.amazonaws.com//aV9JYCB2SWa8PuAjKITT_INSIDER_GUI

The Latest Issue of FerroCity is out. Having my own column is kinda fun... https://s3.amazonaws.com//JyFfkt8TQBmIlA9Ct1TE_September_I

This is why the San Diego production community rocks!!! Earlier this year I donated 5K worth of production services. These services would be awarded to a non pr...ofit in town as part of the American Marketing Associations Cause Conference. I throughly expected that I would be a small camera crew with a small light kit going to film a few interviews. Instead every production person that you see in these images, and one that you don't, told me that they would happily volunteer to help out.... FOR FREE!!! So Michael Brueggemeyer, Jimly Teiper, Mario, Michael W. Towe and Frank Forth I can't thank you enough for your generosity. To have your gear and expertise on this was project was invaluable. It truly will take it to the next level.

Once in a blue moon, I get to light a night green.

New Guidelines for Union Trades have just been released. I share them here for clarification. Please note that Available Light is a non-union lighting & rental vendor endeavoring to be safe in this current pandemic. These offer some sane guidance that has been severely lacking and is much appreciated. https://www.iatse.net//dga-sag-aftra-iatse-teamsters-and-b

Robert Rukavina shooting on the dock of the bay.

Having fun with a new water reflection gag.

Working with Estate Planning today.

I Started writing a column for the monthly 'Insider's Guide'-

Kitchen Remodel Shoot Today!

Lots of Windows and Doors Yesterday!

More interviews today. This 4x4 booklight setup is my new favorite look. Add the negative fill to taste and a high, steep back and you've got a great look going.

Some of the most beautiful silhouette shots in movie history.

Decided to make new reflectors today. Show ready!

Gave a couple cases a new face lift-

This weekend's short is now in the can! What a great time. Great crew, great filmmakers. Blew off the dust, Broke out the toys. Like riding a bike...

You know that first day on a new project with some new people and some old friends? Well, yesterday was a fine example of how that works. From the COVID testing done AND processed before we began, to intelligent, speedy setups, I think this may be a pretty good project! Oh- And everyone tested negative, of course...

Finishing up interviews today with Peter Kingra-Mickelsen taking point. And then this weekend- we are shooting a film. Everyone operating safely while maintaining our sense of humor.

A week of interviews. Wonderful client. Safety procedures at single location were comprehensive and easy to navigate. Completely doable. And... AL starts a new film shoot this weekend. Come back to hear how that went. Thanks for stopping by!

"You'll see my steed a-comin', Ridin' cross this land. You'll know her when you see her- You'll know her by my brand. "And if you be all love and laughs,... Or dark as darkest night, Just smile and tip your hat at me- Available will be your Light..." See more

Greetings from Available Light!

Here's another article I wrote for FerroCity, a production monthly. It's a little fun with C-47's. Best not to bother with the imbedded videos, though. They take you off-site. https://s3.amazonaws.com//HZ7Hw8CFRvWUTgtSY4eA_June_Issue_

Today I'd like to offer a TBT that's not a picture (except in my memory). Instead I'd like to offer a timely anecdote from a moment back in 1996. At this time, I was working with NBC lighting different venues for the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. For the opening ceremonies, I was given the assignment of carrying a battery light for shots of the US athletes on the floor of the Olympic Arena. We rehearsed the ceremony twice and each time things went rather smoothly- from the f...ireworks to the torch lighting. Then the Big Night arrived. No mistakes allowed- this is live to the world. The ceremony was beautiful and flawless. I was seeing it as if it were for the first time. The time came for me to head out to the athletes with Jim Gray and everything went into hyper-aware mode. This was something to savor and remember. Up close, all these super-humans representing our nation looked like your local grocery store clerk or truck driver. They were Us. US. And they were just as excited as you would've been, snapping pictures with those little disposable film cameras that are now so long forgotten. It was time at last for the torch to complete it's journey and the runner entered the arena holding proudly the eternal flame. After passing it to several important builders of athletic history whose names now escape me, the moment I will never forget occurred. The torch went to the final bearer. This was not whom we had rehearsed with. Instead, standing there before the world, was none other than Mohammed Ali. The stadium drew silent. The athletes around me audibly gasped. There I was, 60 ft. from him, experiencing history. The arm hairs are at full attention again now while i write this. I don't know all that much about Mr Ali or his personal beliefs. I just know that- for that one brief moment in time, right there in front of me- I felt the world become whole...

Back in the saddle again! Wishing each of you a safe and prosperous return to work in your craft.

Just getting done tonight working some rather long, contiguous hours. Our last load of goodies was awaiting the freight elevator which arrived and the doors ope...ned. As we tried to get the last cart on, the doors began to close and wouldn't stop- I mean wouldn't stop- just as a rather scrawny PA tried desperately to use his body to make them comply. Think Star Wars compactor scene. At last the doors reopened and the last cart was hurriedly pushed on. Then these steel cables started to unspool from the doorway. And our elevator suddenly had a name- 'Christine'. We all jumped off and left my goodies to surely plummet at her whim. To which she responded by angrily wailing and gnashing her door teeth. Of course, while this was occurring, no other elevator could be summoned. We BRAVELY rescued the carts amidst the gnashing and then, being an idiot, I had an idea. I grabbed the now VERY dangly threaded steel cables and yanked once, in a very manly fashion of course. The doors closed and, as I removed my hand, the steel cables SUCKED liver and favela bean style right up and Christine became... other's problems. I sense sequel... See more

Anyone recognize this tunnel?

http://www.iatselocal80.org//iwlmsc%20task%20force%20white

EPA Approved Dinfectants https://www.epa.gov//list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars

A pict. from the past. Cox spots for Satellite Video Productions in San Diego. Wonderful shoots.

Teiper Tidbits Vol. 2: The Usual Suspects It's time for another Teiper (TY-per) Tidbit. This one is an anecdote......Continue reading

Thanks, Eric- and ILM!

Teiper Tidbits Vol. 1: Location Scouting Hi! I'm Jim Teiper (TY-per), or, 'JT', as my work friends know me. Today I've decided to add a new column to this page where I'll share my thoughts regarding all things production. ...Continue reading

This was just too good not to share...

Lighting Lounge Lizard

Shooting a short on the beach today...

The days of C-47’s on the sleeve seems to be coming to an end. I used to end every gig with my sleeve clacking and often not bother to remove them until my shirts came out of the dryer. A little irony there, I suppose. With all the changes to light sources and capabilities recently, do you find yourself still using these time-honored tools in your craft? If so, how?

Bit O' the Green Today...

As you might have heard, California has enacted a new labor law called AB 5. This law attempts to reclassify many Independent Contractors (IC) as Employees in order to increase the state's payroll tax revenue. AB 5 is greatly affecting the freelance community as many have clients that are not set up for using employees. Please be assured that Available Light IS in compliance with AB 5 as are the crew members we regularly work with. Each crew member is their own established, licensed business as well. As a result, AB 5 will not affect our relationship with existing clients nor potential new ones. We stand ready and are looking forward to making wonderful images with you for the foreseeable future! - Jim Teiper

Spending a couple days with the latest telecom gizmos...

This was such an extraordinary scene in 1917. Man. Roger Deakins' poop don't stink. Not worthy...

Grandma Storytime. From a short we worked on.

Getting big on the links...

Merry Christmas From 'Squinty-Eyed' Wexler, JT, Micah & All At Available Light!

Available Light turns the joint all Technicolor!

Tis' the Season so here's a gem from a commercial we lit mimicking the slide scene in 'A Christmas Story'.

We just got a brand new Astera Titan 8-tube kit so now I'm thinking of selling my 4- Quasar Science 4' RGB Tubes W/ 4-Mount & Umbilical. $400/tube for in original box. Anyone interested?

A Music Video shoot for my friend, Levi Knox.

A line of Quasars nicely mounted. Added ambient as sun sets...

Went Full-Frontal Bounces for this one...

Kitchens are for crowding.

Bedroom Daytime; Bedroom Night...

Lighting the lonely bar sweeper on this one...

Did a ballpark interview...

Working this week on a foot care product