Stewart CohenDirector/DP/Photographer, Stewart Cohen Pictures · Director/DP/Photographer @ Stewart Cohen Pictures | Film Production

You Won’t Believe This Lighting Trick

25 Nov 2025 · 1 min

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In this brief excerpt from a longer interview, host Stewart Cohen talks with gaffer Jason Penza about a specific casino set piece. Stewart explains that in casino lighting, color is paramount, and to convey the slick feel of a slot‑machine on a character’s face he programmed a moving light that sweeps across the face, mimicking the motion of a slot‑machine reel. The discussion highlights the creative decision‑making behind color choice, dynamic lighting, and collaboration between director of photography and gaffer to achieve a cinematic effect.

Hey, this is Stewart. Check out this little snippet from a longer conversation we had with gaffer Jason Penza. Check it out.
So this shot, I know you like this one, so why don't you, uh, tell us a little about how you lit it?
So the, the thing with like casinos specifically is obviously color is everything. And I remember you and I had a conversation about, you know, the slot machine. Do you want to feel that slickerness on his face? Uh, so I programmed a light that was playing on his face to really accentuate like a slot machine rolling through or whatever.