So, as most of you know who are reading this, I am the Gaffer for Retro Film Studios… (Star Trek Phase 2 and Buck Rogers Begins). When we were shooting Buck Rogers Begins, we had an indoor scene that took place on a sunny day. Sadly, mother nature or Thor or whomever didn’t see fit to make the needed weather coincide with the shoot date.

Fortunately, lights from Mole Richardson, a company that’s made studio lights since time immemorial, helped save the day! In the shot below, our “sunlight” is being provided courtesy of a Mole Richardson Type 3081 “burning” in the pouring rain! The particular beastie we used is one of our oldest lamps in our lighting kit. It’s probably someplace between 30 and 50 years old. Still runs like new, with only an occasional bulb change as the only service it’s required.

I love Arri lights (top barn door clips, dual mounting holes), and B&M makes a great set of lights too… but my favorite work horses are still the ancient Mole Richardson units. I’ve seen some of their fixtures still in continuous use after 40, 50, 60 or more years… which also makes them great buys! One can buy an ancient Mole and expect it to work – or need nothing more than a few inches of new wiring inside…