In designing the reality show "La Casa de los Famosos," the Mexican version of "Celebrity Big Brother," lighting designer Miki Molina uses innovative Elation lighting technology to transform the set into an impressive visual spectacle that blends aesthetics with emotion.
For Molina, whose outstanding career in film, theater and television stretches to collaboration with giants such as Amazon, Disney, HBO, Netflix, Sony, Telemundo, and more, lighting design is not just technical but more akin to "painting with light." His work on "La Casa de los Famosos," which airs on TelevisaUnivision, has elevated the reality show to remarkable visual levels while tapping into the emotive facets of the show.
Color Psychology
Since beginning his collaboration with Endemol Shine Boomdog, the largest entertainment production company in Mexico and the U.S. Hispanic market, Molina has worked to capture the key moments of "La Casa de los Famosos" through a design that uses color psychology.
"With color theory it is not about reinventing the wheel, as they say," explains Molina. "It is about playing with the psychology of colors to create emotions in the audience and in the participants. For example, it is about having colors that create tension and on that bed of color, creating a harmonious and powerful composition that is coordinated with the stage parameters of video and camera."
Molina's design is a prime example of how lighting can accentuate moments of tension, joy, or surprise. To achieve this, he relies on the composition of chiaroscuro (contrasts between light and dark) and shades of gray on the main stage. He uses intense tones and subtle lights in more intimate spaces of the house to naturally enrich the scenes.
Broadcast-optimized
Since it is a television show, the technical requirements of the luminaires are quite demanding. During the three to four months of production, Molina turned to several broadcast-optimized Elation luminaires, including the PROTEUS MAXIMUS profile moving head, KL PANEL soft light, and SIXBAR batten. He says these luminaires guarantee the sharpness and colorimetry required while maintaining unmatched consistency. Other essential qualities that Molina says helped him make his design a reality include compatibility with high-speed television cameras, frequency synchronization, and color temperature regulation.
The designer used around 600 luminaires for the main show, house, zoom, garden, and other sets, including pre-galas, galas, sales and other activities.
Creative Process
The creative process of designing lighting for a reality show like "La Casa de los Famosos" involves carefully considering key elements to distinguish each environment. The lighting designer acknowledges that "I had to make the show as spectacular as possible and the design impressive. It had to exceed the highest standards and be part of the great success that this format has been on television."
The designer looked for several ways to make the stage look as big as possible based on the camera shots, including leaks and depth traces. "In that aspect, the choice of Elation was simple. They were the only tools needed for this design." According to Molina, another outstanding feature of the Elation gear is its low energy consumption without sacrificing performance. "I have come to expect greater versatility and less energy consumption from Elation technology," he stated.
Adjustments in Real-Time
Working on a live reality show presents multiple challenges and, in Molina's words, requires "emotional intelligence" to react to unforeseen events. Given the show's spontaneous nature, the lighting team often faces last-minute changes and must adapt their design in seconds.
The Elation lighting allows the LD and his team to adjust light levels and color in real-time, without compromising image quality or altering the visual balance of the show. "If the set changes from one moment to the next, it is vital that the fixtures respond quickly and efficiently so as not to lose synchronization on camera," says Molina.
Molina has been a loyal user of the Elation brand since 2017, stating that he turns to Elation for "innovation, technology and trust." This commitment to quality is also reflected in his collaboration with lighting supplier AVIT Services Integrales, who maintains consistent communication with the Elation support team to ensure the optimal operation of the equipment.
Emotional Impact
Ultimately, the success of "La Casa de los Famosos" is not limited to technical quality but extends to the emotional and environmental aspects of the show, with each light an essential component of the story told on screen. Molina concludes: "The stability of the Elation luminaires gives me the peace of mind that I can reach the parameters I require with the security that the equipment will not fail. That is essential in maintaining the emotion of each broadcast."
Photos: La Casa de los Famosos
