Barger Lite - The Buzz

THE BUZZ

Ed Barger is an award-winning cameraman with over 25 years experience. Versatile and innovative, his credits range from feature films, 65mm 3-D films, commercials, corporate films and TV news. Working with top Directors of Photography such as Vittorio Storaro, two-time Emmy winner Robert Collins and special effects specialist Chuck Schuman he learned the importance of large light sources. His challenge became making that large source into a beautiful soft light that is practical in the every day world of location shooting. Having used the Chimera system for years the Barger Lite is designed to bring the "look" of larger films to the budget and location restraints of every day production. At first Ed designed them for himself. But once other DP's, cameramen and gaffers saw what he was doing they wanted the Barger Lite as part of their lighting package. "Like teaching," says Ed, "the Barger Lite is a way to give something back to the craft that has rewarded me so well".

Here's what others are saying about the Barger Lite...

Read what Jay Holben says about Barger Lites in the American Cinematographer Magazine - August 2006 (pdf)

"I finally had a chance to use the Barger Lite on "Daddy Day Care". When I first saw the front of the Chimera I was excited at how smooth the coverage was across the entire bag. We then compared the output and quality to several other lights in Chimeras. Nothing compared to the punch nor the smooth and soft quality of the Barger Lite. I immediately ordered two and used them every day of the show.

Stephen Poster, ASC
Director of Photography

"Your light has a tremendous amount of flexibility, both in the ability to select densities and in its' adaptability to other kinds of diffusing systems. Another huge asset is the compact size. There's a lot of bang for the buck. The most sensible design feature is the positive lock on the bale. No more 'rogue tilting' when a bag is attached. You've developed a near perfect companion to the bags we are all so fond of these days. I'll look forward to using the Barger Lite again.

Tom Ackerman, ASC
Director of Photography

	Twenty-five set ups a day without sacrificing the look... that's 30 minutes to light & shoot on a commercial with 4 sets! Director of Photography Tom Denove knew he had to dig deep into his bag of tricks for this one. Tom, who has shot 43 features & over 700 commercials knew just what to do. He planned the 5 day shoot around 2 Barger Lite GT-6's. One was outfitted with a large 4'x6' Chimera & the other with a medium 3'x4' Chimera. This way he could get a superior quality soft light without sacrificing any foot candles. "My crew loves these lights! You plug them in with stingers... no cabling... no generator. They're so versatile you can go from a 650 watt to more than a 5K by flipping a switch. With their combo pin you can rig them on any stand, even a C-stand! When you aim them & lock them off they stayed locked off... no drift. It's an incredibly well designed unit. Before the shoot was over the gaffer ordered 2 for his truck." The producer, Bob Caudill said, "The Barger Lites we used on this 5 day shoot saved us at least 4 to 5 hours production time". Tom Denove is also a Professor of Cinema at UCLA & the inventor of the Cine Meter.
Scene lit with the Barger Lite

The Barger Lite on set

The Barger Lite on set

TO:
FROM:
DATE:

The Film Production Community
Bert Dunk
3/19/02

Just finished the first few weeks on a new project with the Barger Lite GT-6's and they worked great! I love the bulbs! The gaffer just bought 2 for his package. I first saw the Barger Lite when I hired Ed Barger to shoot second unit on a movie I was doing and he brought a couple onto the set. I recognized the intelligent design instantly and convinced him to let me try out two on first unit. I started using them so much I wouldn't return them to Ed until a year later when I bought 4 of them!

Bert Dunk has been shooting movies and winning awards for best photography for 20 years. His awards include...

4 Gemini Nominations for Best Photography
8 CSC Awards for Best Photography
1 Gold Clio "New York Art Directors Show"
1 Emmy for Best Picture
The Kodak New Century Award

He is currently using 4 Barger Lite GT-6's on the Show time series, "Street Time", starring Rob Morrow, Scott Cohen & Erika Alexander.

Jeff Zucker - Chief Lighting Technician

"Smaller, brighter, smarter... that's what it's all about with the Barger Lite", says Jeff Zucker, Chief Lighting Technician. "Why would I use a 5K and limit myself by the size, the heat and the need for a 60 amp power source? With the Barger Lite I can use extension cords, flip a switch to get my desired intensity and snug it tight into a corner for more distance from the subject. When you compare a 5K with a Chimera to the Barger Lite the choice becomes undeniably clear."

Zucker's credits include:

DONNIE DARKO Steven Poster DP
THE EDUCATIONOF MAX BICKFORD Andrew Ditenfass DP
FOUR EYES Tony Richmond DP
BOOGIE NIGHTS Robert Elswit DP

Visual Effects:

VANILLA SKY - John Toll DP
WILD WILD WEST - Chuck Schuman DP
GODZILLA - Chuck Schuman DP
ROCKETMAN - Chuck Schuman DP
MICHAEL - Chuck Schuman DP