Spark

The Hands of the Lighting Department

A Spark is the common industry slang term for an on-set electrician or lighting technician. They are the skilled crew members who make up the electrical department and are responsible for the practical, hands-on work of implementing a film’s lighting plan. They work directly under the supervision of the Gaffer (the Chief Lighting Technician) and the Best Boy Electric (the second-in-command).

The term “spark” is a nod to their primary function: handling everything related to electrical power on a set. Their job is physically demanding, technically complex, and crucial for both the artistic look of the film and the safety of everyone on set.

Key Responsibilities

The daily duties of a spark involve:

• Power Distribution: Running heavy-duty cables from the main power source (either a generator or a tie-in to a building’s power) to the set.
• Rigging Lights: Physically setting up the lighting instruments on stands, mounting them to trusses in the ceiling, or rigging them in other creative and often challenging positions.
• Setting and Focusing Lamps: Aiming the lights, adding color gels or diffusion, and adjusting the ‘barn doors’ (flaps on the light) to shape the beam, all according to the Gaffer’s and DP’s instructions.
• Operating Dimmer Boards: Controlling the intensity of the lights during a take.
• Troubleshooting: Quickly diagnosing and fixing any electrical problems that arise during a shoot.

Grips vs. Sparks: A Classic Distinction

For those new to a film set, a common point of confusion is the difference between the electrical department (sparks) and the grip department. The division of labor is traditionally very clear:

• Sparks (Electricians): Are responsible for anything that electricity flows through. They set the lamp itself and run power to it.
• Grips: Are responsible for everything that is used to support or shape the light once it leaves the lamp. This includes the stands the lights are placed on, the flags used to block light, the bounce boards used to reflect it, and the diffusion frames used to soften it.

A classic on-set adage sums it up: “Sparks make it bright, grips make it right.”