Hire a Lighting Director in Chicago, IL
At a Glance
Assignment Desk provides professional lighting director services in Chicago, IL. Our lighting directors come fully equipped with Lighting console (ETC, GrandMA), LED panel arrays, Ellipsoidal and Fresnel fixtures and operate on standard 10-hour production days. Available for corporate, broadcast, commercial, and live event productions. Book today for immediate availability.
What Does a Lighting Director Do?
A Lighting Director (LD) designs and executes the lighting plan for studio, stage, and live event productions. They create lighting plots, select and position fixtures, program lighting consoles, and make real-time adjustments during live shows. The LD works closely with the Technical Director and Director of Photography to ensure the visual look matches the creative vision while meeting broadcast technical standards.
Standard Equipment
Common Shoot Scenarios
- Live broadcast studio shows
- Concert and stage productions
- Award ceremonies
- Corporate keynotes
- Worship and house-of-worship broadcasts
Video Production in Chicago, IL
Chicago is a major national production hub with world-class studios, a deep union and non-union crew base, and iconic locations from the Magnificent Mile to the Chicago Riverwalk. Corporate, broadcast, and commercial work drive year-round demand.
Illinois offers a 30% tax credit on production spending. Chicago's Cinespace Studios, the largest independent studio complex outside Hollywood, has hosted hundreds of TV series and features. The city's strong broadcast infrastructure (NBC, ABC, WGN) supports live event and news production.
- 30% Illinois Film Tax Credit on qualifying production spending
- Cinespace Studios — largest independent studio complex outside Hollywood
- Major broadcast hub: NBC Chicago, ABC 7, WGN, and dozens of production houses
- Iconic locations: Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park, Wrigley Field, Art Institute
Lighting Director Crew in Chicago, IL
View all crew and services in Chicago, IL
Meet our lighting directors in Chicago in our crew directory.
Production Guidelines in Chicago
Standard Day Rate: All lighting director bookings in Chicago are based on a 10-hour production day, which includes setup, shooting, and wrap time.
Overtime: Hours beyond the standard 10-hour day are billed at time-and-a-half. We recommend building buffer time into your schedule for complex productions.
Local Radius: The local production zone covers a 30-mile radius from downtown Chicago (301 W Grand Ave #178). Locations outside this zone may include travel time and mileage charges.
Equipment: All crew arrive with their standard equipment package. Custom gear requests (specialty lenses, additional lighting, etc.) can be arranged with advance notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Chicago a top production market?
Chicago combines a 30% state tax credit, massive studio infrastructure (Cinespace), a deep crew base from both union and non-union talent pools, and iconic urban locations. It's consistently a top-5 US production market by volume.
What crew roles are in highest demand in Chicago?
Camera operators, audio technicians, and gaffers are in constant demand for the city's heavy corporate, broadcast, and live event production schedules. Multi-camera crew and ENG teams are also frequently booked for Chicago's convention and sports calendar.
How much does a lighting director cost in Chicago, IL?
Lighting Director rates in Chicago vary based on project scope, equipment needs, and shoot duration. Assignment Desk offers competitive day rates on a standard 10-hour production day. Contact us at 312-464-8600 or visit our booking page for a custom quote.
What equipment does a lighting director bring to a shoot?
Our lighting director professionals in Chicago typically arrive with Lighting console (ETC, GrandMA), LED panel arrays, Ellipsoidal and Fresnel fixtures, DMX controllers and cables, Truss and rigging hardware, Color gels and diffusion. Equipment packages can be customized based on your production requirements.
See our lighting director crews in action on recent shoots. Browse Production Stories →
Book a Lighting Director in Chicago Today
Call 312-464-8600 or fill out our booking form to get started.
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