Gaffer Thomas Garreau lights up “Emilia Pérez” with ARRI

Thomas Garreau, a rising gaffer, recently collaborated with cinematographer Paul Guilhaume AFC on Jacques Audiard’s award-winning film Emilia Pérez. The musical crime comedy, which premiered at Cannes and won four Golden Globes, was mostly shot in a studio. Garreau shares insights on using ARRI lighting tools, such as SkyPanel, ARRIMAX, and M-Series, to create dynamic lighting for the film.

In Emilia Pérez, Garreau worked with Guilhaume to design lighting that matched the film’s bold vision. Despite being set in Mexico, much of the movie was shot in Paris at Bry Studios. Garreau used ARRI SkyPanels to recreate the Mexican sun and atmosphere, with up to 130 SkyPanels on set. For specific scenes, like the gala sequence, he used automated projectors and SkyPanels to create dramatic lighting effects and adapt to choreography. For the car scenes, ARRI T12 Fresnels and SkyPanels simulated sunsets and moving clouds.

Garreau also shares his experience with the new SkyPanel X, which he tested on Rembrandt and a commercial for Adidas. He praises its versatility, particularly the HyPer Optic accessory for creating sun-like light. He also highlights the SkyPanel's power and color quality, which is especially useful in commercials. For a Dior commercial, he created massive lightboxes using 50 SkyPanels, demonstrating his skill in controlling lighting parameters via DMX.

Garreau’s work spans commercials, films, and television. He started his career with an internship at Panavision, later learning from experienced gaffers and cinematographers. At just 35, he has already gained significant experience in his role as chief lighting technician, assisting cinematographers in bringing their lighting visions to life.