Cinematography-Theory-And-Practice

go from a very wide beam to a very narrow beam. The disadvantageof PARs is that the beam generally covers only a very small area andis not a very complimentary light for actors because it tends to beuneven and raw; nor is it easily controllable, but it is useful for manypurposes that call for just raw light power.PARs come in two basic varieties: film versions come in a solidrotatable housing such as Mole-Richardson’s MolePar (Figure 8.12),which feature barn doors and scrim holders, and in a flimsier theatricalversion called a PAR can. Theatrical lights are not generally assturdily built because they are generally hung in a theater and thenleft alone. They don’t get the rough treatment and adverse conditionsthat film and video lights do. PARs (especially the very concentratedNSP bulbs) can quickly burn through even the toughest gels,melt bead board, and set muslin diffusion on fire.PARs with a dichroic coating have an output that is very close todaylight (blue) balance. Small PAR 48s and 36s are also available atlower voltages, as well as 110 volt. Nearly all types of bulbs are alsoavailable in 220 volts. As single units, they may be used in units suchas the PARcan or MolePAR. PARcans are used extensively in concertlighting; they are lightweight and inexpensive. The MolePAR ismore rugged and better suited to work on a film set.PAR GroupsPARs are also made in groups, one of the best known being the MaxiBrute, a powerful unit with tremendous punch and throw. They areused in large night exteriors and in large-scale interior applications:aircraft hangars, arenas, and so on. They can also be used directlyor through gel, muslin, and so on, when very high light levels areneeded to get through heavy diffusion. All PARs generate veryintense and concentrated heat; use caution when setting them up —they can crack windows and char wood and other materials.Figure 8.18. (above) A Mole-Richardson2K Zip Softlight. Zip means itis more compact than a regular softlight.It is mounted on a set hanger(also called wall hanger). 2K Zips arevery popular for just this sort of use:they fit into small spaces and whenput up near the ceilling of a set orlocation, they don’t hang down sofar that they interfere with the shot.Figure 8.19. (top) A complex rigsupporting a variety of lights. Themiddle ring holds 108 lights fromLED units to strobes to Mole 5K tungstenFresnels. Also hanging from thisrig are space lights including onevery large space light — see Figure8.24. (Photo by Michael Gallart.)lighting sources139