MEGA 1200C Evolved to Do It All: Stars in Its Own Feature Video

The MEGA 1200C, FilmGear®'s latest brute-style LED innovation, stars in its own feature video! From a 36-head UFO to a double-mounted 8-head and single 4-head unit, this modular powerhouse showcases its versatility. Take a look behind the scenes to see how the Mega 1200C is truly an all in one act!

MEGA UFO

A 36-head MEGA 1200C configuration was rigged to a telehandler and lifted 15 feet into the air, creating the striking image of a UFO hoisting the talent skyward. The MEGA Modular setup was controlled wirelessly via CRMX, set to only a fraction of its staggeringly excessive 10,800W of total output.

MEGA DOUBLE MOUNT

This dual 8-head configuration brought the breakdancing scene to life, capturing the break dancer's explosive moves with the MEGA's patented 19º TIR lenses and its bold 7-in-1 LED color mixing system, all controlled via iPad.

MEGA SINGLE MOUNT

With its IP65 weather-sealed body, the single-mount braved harsh conditions—including a practical tropical rain scene—proving its resilience without missing a beat.

Evolved to Do It All
The MEGA 1200C is the ultimate multifaceted lighting solution. Built to handle any challenge, it's ready to elevate your next project. Watch the MEGA feature video to see its versatility in action and make the Mega your go-to choice. To learn more, reach out at info@filmgearusa.com or call (323) 780-8880.

Written by Jibran Kabani

HYBRIDIZATION IN HOLLYWOOD

FilmGear® Brings HMI & Tungsten Together in the Revolutionary Hybrid Power Beam

This year, FilmGear® transformed the film lighting landscape with the revolutionary Hybrid Power Beam. This single fixture brings the best of tungsten and HMI lighting into one beam projector, allowing DPs and gaffers to seamlessly switch between warm tungsten and crisp daylight. Our mission? To streamline productions, enhance lighting versatility and keep costs steady—all without sacrificing the quality you trust.

Industry Leaders on the Hybrid Power Beam

Our partners at  Production L’elo, Sony Pictures, and Local 728 Gaffers have embraced the Power Beam’s versatility to elevate their productions. The Hybrid Power Beam’s dual capabilities not only save time but also streamline production costs.

Nicola Tomassin, Gaffer of Production L’eloi (pictured below), shares:
"I use the Power Beam almost every week!"

Inside the Innovation: How the Hybrid Power Beam Works

 Local 728 Gaffer and FilmGear® Technical advisor, Vincent Valentin, shares his insights on the features driving Power Beam’s technology:

“The Power Beam’s innovation lies in its adjustable lamp lock and reflector system, enabling users to shift between tungsten and HMI without hassle, all while preserving beam integrity and color quality. On fast-paced sets, the flexibility of having dual color temperatures at your fingertips is unmatched.”

Hybrid Power Beams at Cinegear 2024

At CineGear LA 2024 Cinematographer and gaffer Brian ‘DeCon’ De Contreras was especially excited about the prospect of the Power Beam Hybrid! He claimed: 

“All of these Hybrid Power Beams can run as both HMI and tungsten, it’s the coolest effect! In Atlanta, I get asked so many times a year for beams. These are so freaking cool!”

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we close out another year, our team at FilmGear® remains dedicated to innovation that balances creativity and practicality on set. The Hybrid Power Beam has proven its ability to streamline workflows, enhance production efficiency, and provide unparalleled lighting adaptability for our industry partners.

We continue to refine our technology and push the boundaries of film lighting, and we’re excited to see how our engineering will further support your production needs.

Engineered by filmmakers for filmmakers, FilmGear® looks forward to illuminating your sets in the coming year. Reach out to us by calling (323) 780-8880 or emailing info@filmgearusa.com! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Written By: Jibran Kabani

Innovation in the LED Landscape: Discussion with Director Nikola Kitanovski & Gaffer Tyler Rousseau

 Nikola Kitanouski, Feature Film Director harnessed the Mega 1200 to fire up his new feature ‘Tramps like us.’

LA Gaffer Tyler Rosseou, captured by the Zenith line, talks about using them to light his new commercial for Defender

For years, HMI and tungsten hot lights have been essential on film sets, delivering the high output needed for large productions, but at the cost of high energy use, increased labor, and limited color control. While hot lights remain vital, today’s fast-paced, sustainability-driven filmmaking calls for more efficient alternatives. LED technology now meets these demands, offering comparable brightness with lower energy consumption and instant color changes, making powerful, adaptable LEDs not just an option but a necessity.

FilmGear® has responded to this industry shift by bringing the quality of our hot lights into our LED solutions. The Zenith and MEGA lights feature IP65-rated durability and up to 2000W output per panel, and coupled with our 19° TIR lenses, they deliver massive, focused lighting power for modern production needs. Below, we talk to industry professionals about harnessing the Zenith & MEGA for their most recent projects.

DISCUSSION:

How Was FilmGear®'s LED Output Applied?

Tyler (Gaffer/ Defender Commercial): “We used the Zenith as a key light for the talent, wrapping the fill side with a bounce and adding a couple of barefaced Zeniths to pump extra F-stops into the room. Despite the cloudy day, we were able to double expose both inside and outside the house, and it looked great. The punchiness of the 19-degree TIR lenses allowed us to bring the light closer to the talent without affecting the makeup, which was softened up with a book light, giving me the F-stops I needed for a textured look. Everyone was very happy with the results.”

Nikola (Director/ Tramps Like Us): ‘“The MEGA had enough punch and output to serve as the key light in a variety of our scenes. It’s a huge time and money saver because, unlike traditional hot lights, you don’t need five people to move it around. It’s a big source with great versatility and modular options, which makes it a lifesaver on set. When you have stunt coordinators and extras, having a nimble lighting setup lets you allocate resources elsewhere to tell your story—that’s everything.”

Thoughts on the build quality?

Nikola: “When it comes to the MEGA, it's built like a tank—very sturdy and durable. Typically, when you compare LED lights with traditional hot lights in terms of output and build quality, the difference in field quality is obvious. However, with the MEGA, there is no visual difference; it truly matches the performance and robustness of hot lights.”

Tyler: “For our Defender commercial shot in the hills of Malibu, we immediately appreciated the IP65 weather-sealed protection from the elements. Owning this unit gives me confidence—it can handle a fall during high-speed shoots while staying durable and easy to use. Just bend your knees and lift with ease!”

What Sets FilmGear® LEDs Apart?

Nikola: “Bang for your buck. It’s hard to find an LED that offers such versatility at this price point. Coupled with the local support, we know FilmGear is just a call away if we need anything. This makes it a straightforward solution in this emerging space because we can always rely on FilmGear’s quality. The results speak for themselves on screen, and that's the beauty of our work—you can see it and judge it.”

Tyler: “Ease of use! The menu was very intuitive, allowing me to quickly navigate to where I wanted to go. I was able to jump on the back of the unit and control the output directly through the menu without needing any external connections. I was also impressed by the pixel control and customization options within the color gamut.”

FILMGEAR® ZENITH 2000C

At FilmGear®, we’re redefining LED technology with our MEGA and Zenith, emphasizing versatility that sets us apart. Engineered by filmmakers for filmmakers, our lights adapt to various production scenarios and continually evolve to your needs on set. The MEGA 1200C transforms easily into a space light, dual, quadruple, or a wall of light while the Zenith line offers exceptional flexibility and unparalleled output. Discover how our LEDs can elevate your productions! To learn more, reach out at info@filmgearusa.com or call (323) 780-8880.

Written by: Jibran Kabani

Maxibrute ⟹ MEGA: The Evolution

The Tungsten Maxibrute has been a cornerstone of lighting for decades, earning its place as an industry standard for multi-headed fixtures. From small commercial sets to cinematographic masterpieces crafted by Roger Deakins himself, Maxis have shaped the visual language of cinema. As much of film lighting shifts from tungsten to LED, FilmGear® takes the lead on transforming and modernizing the beloved maxibrute. The MEGA 1200 fuses the Maxibrute’s classic form with cutting-edge LED technology. It’s not just an update—it’s the next evolution, built for modern filmmakers.

From Maxibrutes to LED

As the industry shifts to more efficient and more versatile LED technology, the Maxibrute still remains a trusted staple, highlighting the timeless need for an impressively powerful yet relatively inexpensive light to fill its niche. FilmGear®s' Maxibrute, extensively used by Roger Deakins in "1917," stands as a testament to tungsten's enduring legacy and continued role in modern lighting.

MEGA 1200C: The Evolution 

The MEGA 1200C takes the foundation of the traditional Maxibrute and evolves it for modern demands. While maintaining the presence of its predecessor, its 4-headed modular design introduces the potential for even greater versatility and scalability. The MEGA can transform into a wall of light, double-yoke fixture, or even a space light. This flexibility allows for a wide range of creative setups, while still incorporating the power of the original Maxibrute. For gaffers and riggers, the modularity also results in a more streamlined, adaptable lighting solution.

What Makes The MEGA Stand Out

FilmGear® is renowned for its durability, and the MEGA 1200C is a prime example, boasting an IP65 rating for reliable performance in any environment. Its 19º beam angle provides precise directional lighting, while the advanced 7-color LED system expands the color gamut to deliver unparalleled results. The MEGA 1200C also offers exceptional versatility with accessories like soft boxes and diffusion kits, allowing beam angles to be easily adjusted for precise light shaping and rapid adaptability. 

The Maxibrute’s legacy has defined lighting for decades, and with the MEGA 1200C, FilmGear® evolves that heritage. Retaining the core power and reliability of the Maxibrute, the MEGA transforms it into a multipurpose LED fixture built with convenience and adaptability in mind, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation. We’re eager to see how it reshapes lighting on set for both seasoned pros and emerging creators. Experience the evolution—try the MEGA 1200C today and find out more by emailing us at info@filmgearusa.com or calling at (323) 780-8880.

Written & Edited by: Jibran Kabani + Jonathan Pino

The Power Beam’s Role on the set of “Skincare”: An In-Depth Talk with DP Christopher Ripley & Gaffer Mathias Peralta

                                                                                                   Chris with the 12k Power beam 

In 2019, the Tungsten 12kW Power Beam made its debut in the North American market, offering filmmakers a powerful addition to their creative arsenal. With its sharp reflector and massive output, it quickly became a staple for beam lights. In this newsletter, we sit down with two industry trailblazers, Director of Photography Chris Ripley and Gaffer Mathias Peralta (full interview linked above). Known for their music video work with artists like Kendrick Lamar and The Rolling Stones, we discuss their new feature film, Skincare, and how FilmGear®'s 12kW Tungsten Power Beam helped bring it to life.

Skincare is described as a “sunshine noir,” revolving around a renowned aesthetician who faces sabotage from a rival clinic. This sets her on a personal quest to uncover the saboteur's identity.

Ripley and Peralta highlighted the Power Beam’s impressive output and parallel beams, which allowed them to create a "portable sun" that illuminated two adjacent skincare clinics through the windows—a technique that became a signature element of the film’s lighting design. “We only used two big heads, and one of them was the 12kW Tungsten Power Beam. It felt like having a laser... it would hit the right point on the wall or the floor and feel natural. That was one of my favorite qualities,” said Peralta.

Facing the challenges of on-location shooting in Los Angeles, the team adapted by rigging the Power Beam on urban porches and rooftops. This setup showcased the light’s 0° beam angle and its nimble 64-pound body while delivering a strong, directional output. "Instead of hanging it off a condor, we'd place it on a porch, allowing it to shine straight down and do amazing things. Another fixture, at that distance and with those restrictions, would be too clunky. But the Power Beam had the punch, thanks to its optics."

Beyond its role as a hard light source, the Power Beam was also used as a soft light by reflecting it into various locations, gently illuminating characters' faces in emotionally charged scenes. “We’d punch it into this small room, and then skate it from one side, so the return would softly illuminate their faces,” said Chris.

This process was enhanced by the tungsten dimming curve, controlled via an iPad-operated dimmer, which was also crucial in saving time on set. It allowed the team to simulate the passage of time from day to evening without changing the lighting setup. 'At one point, we had back-to-back scenes in the same room, each needing to feel like a different time of day. We could quickly shift the lamp's position because it was lightweight, creating the feel of late afternoon, warmer sunlight, or sunset. The dimmer made it intuitive, with a smooth dimming curve that was just beautiful. It was perfect for when we had to shoot five scenes in a row.' said Ripley.

Tungsten dimming curve controlled via iPad.

““Instead of hanging it off a condor, we’d place it on a porch, allowing it to shine straight down and do amazing things. Another fixture, at that distance and with those restrictions, would be too clunky. But the Power Beam had the punch, thanks to its optics.””

— Chris Ripley

The Power Beam has quickly become one of FilmGear®’s most highly in-demand fixtures, and with filmmakers like Chris Ripley and Mathias Peralta pushing the boundaries of what a beam projector can achieve on set, it’s easy to see why! In our interview, linked below, we continue our discussion on the Power Beam and explore their insights on the future of film lighting, the broader gear economy, and the evolution of their personal styles. 

We loved hearing from them and are eager to hear more from members of the FilmGear family in the future. Share your experiences with us by calling (323) 780-8880 or emailing info@filmgearusa.com. 

Written & Edited by: Jibran Kabani + Jonathan Pino

When Power Meets Precision

Precision Reflectors are increasingly used in film lighting for efficiently illuminating multiple objects from a single source. However, their potential for simulating distant light sources is often overlooked. Achieving natural daylight's characteristics—like light falloff and intensity—is challenging but precision reflectors can come in clutch, despite light spill requiring larger, more power-intensive lights. Pairing Filmgear®’s Power Beams with reflectors allows gaffers to enhance output by reducing spill.

To answer the question of whether or not reflectors highlight the strengths between Fresnels, faceted PARs, and beam projectors, we experimented with each fixture across a variety of scenarios and observed the output, shadow quality, and general daylight-likeness. We hypothesized that the Power Beams’ tighter beam angle and greater output would pair well with a precision reflector to take the age-old brightness versus clarity tradeoff to its extreme.

The following images have been lightly edited for clarity to adjust for varying lighting levels.

Starting from Figure 1, there was no significant difference in light quality. Shadows were similarly soft, but the first two lights could not match the Power Beam's 4800lux compared to the 1500lux and 2700lux of the Fresnel and Par lights.

In Figure 2, the Fresnel at full flood provided the cleanest and sharpest shadows of the bunch, emphasizing the fresnel’s biggest strength, its cutability.

In Figure 3, a quirk of beam projectors becomes evident: the high optical quality of the Power Beam’s glass mirror reflects everything in the lamp head, including the arc of the globe depending on the spot/flood level. As expected, the Power Beam is best used when you need a strongly defined shaft of light to cross great distances.

Overall, the results highlighted the true strengths of these fixtures and where their best placement is on your set. The Fresnel shines with its clean and crisp shadows, the F-Series shows off with its powerhouse output, and the Power Beam pierces with its narrow beam shafts and longer throw.

FilmGear® offers a wide range of film lights including the Hybrid Power Beams, Daylight Faceted PARs, and Daylight Fresnels used in this test. If you’re interested in running some tests of your own, you can always schedule a one-on-one demo at your convenience. Simply contact us at (323) 780-8880 or email info@filmgearusa.com to book a demo at your location or ours.

Thank You For Another Wonderful Year At CineGear!

Thanks to everyone for coming by our booth this year and making Cine Gear 2024 one to remember! We had the pleasure of debuting three new fixtures that made a huge splash at the expo: the MEGA 1200C, the Power Beam Hybrid and the Zenith 900C!

MEGA 1200C

The talk of the expo was the MEGA wall, a demonstration of our MEGA 1200C’s modular capabilities and powerhouse output. Additional MEGA lights set up with a double yoke or as a space light showed off the wide variety of use cases for this versatile luminaire. With punchy output that lit up the showroom floor even at just 6% intensity, everyone wanted the chance to play with this IP65-rated gem of a light fixture!

Power Beam Hybrid

We also wowed attendees with the brilliant engineering of FilmGear®’s Power Beam Hybrid. The simple daylight/tungsten switching mechanism will make these rare beam projectors much more widely available in the colors that gaffers want them. With the full range of outputs on display during the show, the Power Beam Hybrid sure drew in a big crowd!

Zenith 900C

And of course the Zenith had quite the showing this year with the newest addition of the Zenith 900C. A lot of people were drawn in by the convenient form factor of the 900C and its impressive output for its compact size. Beyond the output, there was particularly good feedback on the light’s color accuracy, offering more complete coverage over the Rec. 2020 color space, and the IP65-rated build quality certainly didn’t hurt!

CineGear 2024 was such a blast and we want to thank everyone on the CGE team and of course all the wonderful visitors to our booth for making it such a wonderful experience!

To show our appreciation to those of you who showed us some love, we’re offering a show discount of up to 35% on our items if you checked in at our booth. If you missed your chance to see us on the showroom floor, feel free to request an in-person demo with us by calling (323)780-8880! Thanks for another wonderful year at CineGear!

The FilmGear® Experience Hits CineGear LA 2024 This Weekend!

Be there for FilmGear®’s showing at CineGear LA 2024 on June 7-8! Order a free pass to the expo through us and get a first-hand look at these hot ticket items that will be on display at Booth S4101 on Stage 24 of the Warner Bros. lot!

Power Beam Hybrid

MEGA 1200C

Zenith 900C

We’re also bringing back some FilmGear® favorites: the F-Series, Apollo, and Aurora!

And of course some lovely raffle prizes and free giveaway goodies will be handed out each day of the expo, including:

The FilmGear® experience hits the expo floor later this week so don’t miss it!