Lamp Dock

On this episode of Lamp Dock, we sit down with two legends of the lighting world—Martin Smith and Lee Eldred—whose partnership has taken them from the early days at Harry Potter all the way to the wild extremes of Mission Impossible. With over 25 years working together, they share how a rental house apprenticeship turned into a global career—rigging cliffside lights in Norway, defrosting generators in the Arctic, and diving 30 meters deep for underwater scenes. But at the heart of it all? Loyalty, laughter, and a relentless passion for the craft.

PART ONE
John Alcantara’s journey from a curious kid with an artist dad to one of New York’s most respected gaffers is nothing short of inspiring. In this in-depth interview, John shares how a free PA gig and a crash course in lighting sparked a lifelong passion — leading to major projects like Only Murders in the Building, The Many Saints of Newark, and the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown.
We dive into:
• His early struggles and breakthrough moments
• Creative problem-solving in New York’s toughest locations
• Lighting for mood, speed, and story on set
• Behind-the-scenes stories with Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep & Paul Rudd
• The evolving craft of gaffing in the era of LED and wireless tech
If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, gaffer, or just love behind-the-scenes film talk — this one’s for you.

Jeff Murrell is a distinguished Hollywood gaffer with a career spanning several decades, contributing his expertise in lighting to numerous high-profile films. His notable works include "Men in Black" (1997), "Gone in Sixty Seconds" (2000), "Lords of Dogtown" (2005), "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007), "Ted" (2012), "Captain America: Civil War" (2016), "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019), "Black Widow" (2021), and "The Tomorrow War" (2021).

We’re honored to have legendary gaffer Jim Plannette join us on The Lamp Dock Podcast! With a career spanning decades and credits on iconic films like E.T., Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, and many more, Jim has shaped the way Hollywood lights its biggest productions.
From working alongside legendary filmmakers to witnessing the evolution of set lighting firsthand, Jim shares unforgettable stories, industry insights, and a masterclass in cinematic lighting. Listen now and learn from one of the best in the business!

This week on The Lamp Dock, we’re sitting down with industry legend John Gresch, former VP of Sales & Marketing at ARRI, for an exclusive deep dive into the evolution of cinematic lighting. From the game-changing ARRIMAX to the revolutionary SkyPanel, hear behind-the-scenes stories, insider insights, and the innovations that shaped how we light the big screen