Cinema gear from China shines at California expo

A lecturer from the American Society of Cinematographers attracted a crowd at Warner Bros Studios in California, where cinematographer Shane Hurlbut shared his experiences using LED lights from Guangdong Nanguang Photo & Video Systems.

"We can create a beautiful reflection in the character's eyes, and it enhances the overall quality of the picture under these light sources," Hurlbut told the audience on Saturday in Burbank, California, as he demonstrated the lighting effects through the camera lens.

A cinematographer should first and foremost be focused on self-expression, he said. A good cinematographer should also be a creator who uses cine lenses and lighting to tell stories, leveraging technology to increase production value.

The seminar was one of many programs held during the Cine Gear Expo 2024. Since its inception in 1996, the expo has developed into the premier event for the technology, entertainment and media industries.

The three-day show drew thousands of artists and technicians from around the world to display new technologies and products, providing a lens on the future of film production and content creation.

The integration of LED (light-emitting diode) lighting for movies is one of the key advances in a wave of cinematic innovation. With its many advantages, LED lighting is gradually changing the way films are made, adding a new dimension to cinematic storytelling.

The Chinese lighting industry stood out as a leader in innovation among the exhibitors, as several Chinese manufacturers displayed their latest lighting and power equipment.

"Our vision is becoming a Chinese brand respected by the whole world," Shirly Lin, senior marketing manager for Nanguang, told China Daily. "The US market is the most important market for our brands and we continue collaborating with American partners and studios."

Barry Garcia, technical sales manager for Nanguang's subbrand Nanlite in the United States, said US customers recognize the quality and innovation of Chinese lighting products and their global market share is continually increasing, reflecting a growing appreciation among consumers.

"They do a very good share ... in the North American market as well as probably some of the South American market because the light quality is there," he said. "In Hollywood, being a content creator in the US, having these types of lights available to them is very useful for anything that they need to create."

Many TV series and movies from major studios such as Amazon and Netflix utilize Nanlite lighting for their productions, especially for special effects work, Garcia said. As a local distributor for Chinese lighting products, Garcia described his work with Chinese companies as a good "give-and-take" relationship.

Having worked with many Chinese companies over the past decade, he said he found it interesting that Shantou in Guangdong province, where Nanlite is based, was known primarily as a place for manufacturing toys. Nanguang is also located there, as the city has evolved into a hub for LED and other technological advancements.

Innovative way

"That's the lighting area where a lot of LEDs we use come from," Garcia said. "They are unique because of the innovative way they develop new technology and products."

Aputure, founded in China in 2005, is another leading designer of cinema lighting. The company sells its products globally, with offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

"Cinematography is one of the hardest things for even AI to accomplish," cinematographer Joseph Dean said. "High-quality Chinese products help us solve some of the film industry's most challenging problems."

With the shift toward LED lighting in the film industry, Simon Lam, sales and marketing director for Dongguan Huiguan Culture Technology, emphasized the advantages of LED lighting over traditional lighting for the actual needs of professional film-lighting sources.

Lam said the company has several leads it is negotiating "to explore the market in the US". He said his home city, Dongguan in Guangdong, has become the global production base for LED light parts.