Set the Table with Light

OCCASIONALLY, as we’re positioning a light, I’ll say to the crew, “Okay, let’s tabletop the main light.” Depending on who’s on the set, this will sometimes produce a quizzical head tilt, as in, “Whazzat? Tabletop the light?”

This refers to the positioning of the surface of the light source relative to the subject. A tabletop is a flat 180 degrees in relationship to the floor. Same thing with this type of light, only it’s usually at a slightly less absolute angle than a table surface, most of the time. In other words, the angle is steep, overhead of the subject, but not absolutely flat. You wouldn’t want to put a plate on the angle you’re creating for this surface, for instance. Take a look at the sketch for a rough idea of the angle of this light.