When Disney brought back the magic for the upcoming Freakier Friday, gaffer Greg Doi was tasked with creating a versatile and cinematic lighting setup across a range of dynamic locations—from retail interiors to classroom labs and studio stages. His go-to gear? LiteMat Spectrum and LiteTile Plus.
Here’s how Greg broke it down.
Lighting the Walgreens Store: Big Soft Light, Minimal Setup
For scenes shot in a Walgreens set, Greg turned to LiteGear’s LiteTile Plus 4x8s and 2x8s in LiteBoxes, paired with LiteMat Plus 8 and LiteMat Spectrums for fill.
“We used (4) 2×8 LiteTile units in LiteBoxes for each aisle in the store,” Greg shared. “We also used (2) 4×8 LiteTiles with custom-made LiteBoxes and skirts, in addition to LiteMat Plus 8 and a few LiteMat Spectrums for fill light.”
The custom LiteBoxes allowed for fast setup and consistent soft coverage, perfect for a location full of reflective surfaces and product shelves. The built-in skirting kept the spill controlled, reducing the need for extra grip gear—speeding up production without sacrificing quality.
School Lab Setup: Clean Color, Easy Ceiling Mounts
In a high school lab set, the team used a combination of LiteMat Spectrum 4’s and LiteMat Spectrum 8’s on the ceiling, with additional LiteMat Spectrums on stands.
“(6) LiteMat 4 Spectrums on the ceiling alongside a LiteMat Specrum 8, LiteMat Spectrum 4, and two LiteMat Spectrum 2’s on stands.”
Thanks to the low-profile design and full color control of the Spectrum series, Greg was able to fine-tune each light to match the mood and tone of the scene—without bulky fixtures or intensive rigging.
Studio Stage Work: Controlled Ambient Sunlight
On the Disney stage, LiteTile Plus 4x8s were once again the workhorses—this time to simulate ambient daylight.
“(2) LiteTile 4x8s in custom-made LiteBoxes with skirts for ambient sunlight.”
The LiteTiles were housed in large soft boxes Greg’s team built specifically for the production—delivering broad, beautiful ambient light with fast deployment. The result: a natural, sunlit classroom feel without harsh shadows or unwanted spill.
Ceiling Lights for Classroom Set: Practical Meets Professional
Finally, for a classroom ceiling setup:
“(2) LiteMat 4 Spectrums for classroom ceiling lights.”
This setup added realism and depth, keeping the source practical while maintaining full creative control over intensity and color.
Why LiteMat Spectrum & LiteTile?
For Greg, it comes down to reliability, control, and ease of use.
“The LiteMat Spectrums are some of my favorite lights to use with egg crates. They provide a great compact source with full color control and easy placement,” he said.
“The LiteTiles are amazing big soft sources, and with the custom boxes we built, they provide an opportunity for a faster setup of a big soft light with very little extra grip equipment.”
On a tight schedule with a wide range of environments to light, LiteGear’s tools offered the kind of modular, lightweight, and color-accurate solutions Greg and his crew needed.
Whether rigged overhead, hidden in ceiling panels, or built into custom soft boxes, LiteMat Spectrum and LiteTile proved their value across every setup. As the industry continues to demand both flexibility and quality, it’s clear that LiteGear remains a trusted name behind the scenes—and behind the magic.