We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Clairy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We saw a need in the entertainment lighting sector for a company to bridge the gap between the crew, the studios that they work for, and the vendors who are creating such innovative technologies for the film, television, and live event industries.

Everyone involved in starting Lightscape Lighting & Equipment has decades of on-set experience working with lighting equipment. So, we know how much work it is to balance hours working on set with renting and invoicing of equipment for production. While we do provide simple rentals and sales, the heart of our business is supporting crew members with back-office administration, training, and tech support. We also work with vendors to introduce and provide training on new products to the very people who have the ability to bring these innovations to set–the crew.

Elton Matthew Hartney James, one of the lighting programmers we work with, says, “As a lighting programmer with my own gear, I’m all alone. But in my partnership with Lightscape, I have someone to stand behind me when a mission-critical piece of equipment has failed and we’re shooting in two hours. They’ve not only got my back, they’ll go to the mat for me. They represent me and the equipment I’ve invested in for my business with acuity and integrity, and that’s incredibly valuable.”

That’s the kind of relationship we got into business to support.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of a number of individuals in my life. I started my lighting career at 13 through my local community theater and my church group. The members of these institutions took a chance and really enabled me to learn as much as I possibly could about lighting technology in a time where information wasn’t easy to come by. Like most things in the Film Industry, getting started is hard and my experience was no different. After working for years as a Lighting technician in local theaters and regional tours, I started to get the opportunity to engage in the Motion Picture Industry. After graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design I entered the industry and worked my way through the ranks as a rigging electrician, programmer and gaffer, building my own crew-operator business, Clairy Films, and ultimately designing and programming for many of Hollywood’s biggest films and television series. A member of the International Cinema Lighting Society, my passion for lighting, system control, and entertainment technology informs my mission to promote continuing education and innovation within the lighting industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta is not thought of as an architectural city, but one of my absolute favorite things to do in the city is take visitors on a walking tour of John Portmans buildings downtown. They really are remarkable. We usually start at the Mariott and and work our way though the Hyatt and over to America’s Mart. Many people don’t realize that you can actually tour all of these buildings without stepping foot on the streets through a series of interconnected tunnels.

After a tour I like to head over to the Beltline for a quick walk on the east-side trail and some snacks at any number of fantastic restaurants in the area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Lightscape Lighting & Equipment wouldn’t be where we are today without the help, support and mentorship of a myriad of people. Our sister company, Blue Planet AVL, has been a enormous support for us in business and system development. Our partnership with companies such as MBS Equipment, RatPac Dimmers, Cinelease, and numerous other vendors have given us valuable insight and access into the industry from the business side that without, we just wouldn’t exist. Also, the motion picture lighting community and all of the crew and students that support us really do unbelievable work to keep moving Lightscape further

Website: lightscapelcp.com

Instagram: lightscapelcp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lightscapelcp

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.