Last Updated 2 months ago
Definition
A Chicken Coop is an overhead lighting fixture that typically houses six or more tungsten bulbs arranged in a grid pattern within a metal frame. It’s designed to provide a broad, soft, downward wash of light, often used for lighting large areas or evenly illuminating groups of actors on set.
The fixture gets its name from its resemblance to a small chicken coop—an open, box-like structure with multiple light sources inside.
Purpose and Use
The Chicken Coop is used primarily for overhead fill and general illumination, especially on interior sets. Suspended from a grid, truss, or ceiling pipe, it produces an even, flattering light without creating harsh shadows.
Typical uses include:
- Providing overall exposure for large interior spaces.
- Lighting ensembles or crowd scenes from above.
- Softly filling the set while allowing key lights to define contrast and direction.
- Serving as a top light in multi-camera television stages or feature film sets.
By combining multiple bulbs, operators can control intensity through dimmers or by switching circuits independently—allowing the gaffer to “bring up” or “drop” sections as needed.
Design and Construction
- Lamp Type: Traditionally tungsten (often 3200K photoflood or 1K lamps), though LED versions are now common.
- Mounting: Hung from pipe grids, chain motors, or C-clamps.
- Diffusion: May include a silk or diffusion frame beneath the fixture for softer output.
- Power: Each lamp is usually wired to its own circuit for selective control.
Modern equivalents, such as soft boxes, spacelights, or LED panels, serve similar purposes but with more efficient power usage and color control.
History
Chicken Coops were a staple of classic studio lighting, particularly in the era of tungsten stages. They offered high-output top light before large LED and fluorescent sources were common. Many still exist in legacy studios or are replicated today for period film work.
Why It Matters
Understanding fixtures like the Chicken Coop helps new lighting technicians recognize the evolution of set lighting—from heavy, heat-intensive tungsten rigs to modern LED systems. The Chicken Coop represents the foundation of overhead soft lighting in cinema history.
Related Terms
- [Spacelight] A cylindrical overhead fixture used for large, soft, even illumination.
- [Soft Light] A diffused, low-contrast lighting source.
- [Grid] The overhead structure in a studio used for hanging lights and flags.