Lighting the Biggest Films: Hollywood Gaffer Jim Plannette Tells All

Lamp Dock by MACCAM welcomes gaffer Dessie Coale for a thoughtful, funny, and deeply human conversation with Michael Kelly about building a career in film and television lighting. In this episode, Dessie shares her path from a small town in Southern Illinois to working as a gaffer in Los Angeles, including the early risks, career pivots, mentors, and set experiences that shaped her work. She talks about moving to LA, getting her union days, working on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Matlock, Tiny Beautiful Things, I Love LA, and other film and television projects that helped define her career. Dessie and Michael also dig into the real work behind gaffing: prep, lighting choices, LED vs. tungsten, working with DPs, managing budgets, negotiating with production, building crews, imposter syndrome, and the emotional realities of leadership on set. More than a technical conversation, this episode explores what it means to create a healthy crew culture, mentor the next generation, stay visible in the industry, and lead with both skill and humanity. Topics include: • Dessie Coale’s journey into film and television lighting • Moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles • Getting union days and building a career from the ground up • Transitioning from electrician and best boy to gaffer • Working with DPs, crews, and production teams • LED lighting, tungsten, color quality, and fixture choices • Prep, budgets, gear, and problem-solving on set • Leadership, mentoring, visibility, and crew culture • Imposter syndrome in the film industry • The importance of relationships in production If you work in film, television, lighting, grip and electric, cinematography, production, or just love hearing real stories from working professionals behind the camera, this episode offers an honest look at craft, career, and community. #TheLampDock #MACCAM #DessieCoale #MichaelKelly #Gaffer #FilmLighting #Cinematography #SetLighting #GripAndElectric #WomenInFilm #FilmProduction #TelevisionProduction #BehindTheScenes #FilmIndustry #LEDLighting #TungstenLighting #CrewCulture #Mentorship #Filmmaking #Gaffers

On this episode of Lamp Dock, we sit down with two legends of the lighting world—Martin Smith and Lee Eldred—whose partnership has taken them from the early days at Harry Potter all the way to the wild extremes of Mission Impossible. With over 25 years working together, they share how a rental house apprenticeship turned into a global career—rigging cliffside lights in Norway, defrosting generators in the Arctic, and diving 30 meters deep for underwater scenes. But at the heart of it all? Loyalty, laughter, and a relentless passion for the craft.

PART ONE John Alcantara’s journey from a curious kid with an artist dad to one of New York’s most respected gaffers is nothing short of inspiring. In this in-depth interview, John shares how a free PA gig and a crash course in lighting sparked a lifelong passion — leading to major projects like Only Murders in the Building, The Many Saints of Newark, and the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. We dive into: • His early struggles and breakthrough moments • Creative problem-solving in New York’s toughest locations • Lighting for mood, speed, and story on set • Behind-the-scenes stories with Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep & Paul Rudd • The evolving craft of gaffing in the era of LED and wireless tech If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, gaffer, or just love behind-the-scenes film talk — this one’s for you.

Jeff Murrell is a distinguished Hollywood gaffer with a career spanning several decades, contributing his expertise in lighting to numerous high-profile films. His notable works include "Men in Black" (1997), "Gone in Sixty Seconds" (2000), "Lords of Dogtown" (2005), "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007), "Ted" (2012), "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), "Black Widow" (2021), and "The Tomorrow War" (2021).

This week on The Lamp Dock, we’re sitting down with industry legend John Gresch, former VP of Sales & Marketing at ARRI, for an exclusive deep dive into the evolution of cinematic lighting. From the game-changing ARRIMAX to the revolutionary SkyPanel, hear behind-the-scenes stories, insider insights, and the innovations that shaped how we light the big screen