Top products from r/cinematography
We found 79 product mentions on r/cinematography. We ranked the 225 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
1. Set Lighting Technician's Handbook: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 13
Focal Press
2. The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 6
Focal Press
3. Painting With Light
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 5
University of California Press
4. Film Lighting: Talks with Hollywood's Cinematographers and Gaffers
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 4
Touchstone Books
5. Aputure AL-M9 Amaran LED Mini Light on Camera Video Light, Black
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 4
The Amaran AL-M9 is a pocket sized LED fill light. It is incredibly compact and lightweight with 9 SMD bulbs that are powerful in the palm of your handIt's flexibility makes it suitable for a wide variety of applications from run and gun video to macro product photography and so onHigh Efficiency Bu...
6. NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Ultra High Power Panel Digital Camera / Camcorder Video Light, LED Light for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Panasonic,SONY, Samsung and Olympus Digital SLR Cameras
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 4
160-LED lights for optimum illumination and diffuser.There are 2 filters included with this item, with Spotlight effect, Diffuse effect, and for reducing the color temperature to 3200KThe light intensity can be changed to offer professional effects.Rotate switch for on/off and brightness adjustment....
7. Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers At Work
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 4
8. Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 3
Great product!
10. Capturing the Shot: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques, and Workflows for Digital Cinematography
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 3
Focal Press
11. Master Shots Vol 1, 2nd edition: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get An Expensive Look on your Low Budget Movie
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 3
Michael Wiese Productions
12. The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 3
Focal Press
13. Cinematographer Style: The Complete Interviews, Volume I
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 3
Used Book in Good Condition
14. YONGNUO YN300 III YN-300 III LED Camera Video Light with Adjustable Color Temperature 3200K-5500K for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympas Samsung
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 3
YN300 III adopts 300 high-quality LED light beads of extra-large luminous chips,the brightness is higher,the light spot is more evenly and the service life is longer.The color temperature of YN300 III is 3200K-5500K.Adopted the professional LED driving chip,the light is stable and the efficiency ach...
15. Cinematography: Theory and Practice, Second Edition: Image Making for Cinematographers and Directors (Volume 1)
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
16. New Cinematographers
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 2
Used Book in Good Condition
17. Ravelli AVTP Professional 65mm Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 2
Professional 3-Segment Interlocking Crutch Type LegsSupports Video Cameras/SLRs up to 27LBSDual Handled Head with Continuous Drag Fluid Movement for both Pan and Tilt AxisUniversal 65mm Mounting BowlMaximum Operating Height: 54.5"
18. American Cinematographer Manual 10TH Edition
Sentiment score: 0
Number of reviews: 2
My favorite lighting-related resources are:
For basic lighting YouTube is your friend.
favorites on my shelf:
 
"Masters of Light" by Schaefer and Salvato
A serious wealth of knowledge. Its focused in chapters on individual Dps. really really a great resource.
 
"Film Lighting: Talks with DPs and Gaffers" by Malkiewicz
Pretty good. a bit basic BUT good concepts inside. Good info from good working cinematographers.
 
and i will second /u/peterpeterpeter on "New Cinematographers" by Alex Ballinger. Great new (well, 15 years old now) people working with interesting ideas. Great pictures.
 
I personally really want to read Almendros' book next, as /u/cikmatt suggested.
I haven't really needed to read any of these recently, so there might be better ones out now, but here are some ideas:
Cinematography: Theory and Practice: https://www.amazon.com/Cinematography-Theory-Practice-Cinematographers-Directors/dp/0240812093
ASC Manual: https://store.ascmag.com/product-p/10110.htm (this is more of a reference but I think you can learn a lot if you comb through it with your unlimited time :) )
Motion Picture and Video Lighting: https://store.ascmag.com/product-p/10110.htm
The Camera Assistant's Manual: https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Assistants-Manual-David-Elkins/dp/0240810570/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522612793&sr=8-3&keywords=the+camera+assistant%27s+manual&dpID=51o7uMqwzZL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
(the stuff in here is important to know when working your way up, but also how to conduct your self on set and the tools of the trade for professionals)
and really anything on Focal Press is great, as far as I've seen. You might also read books about VFX producing (for background when working with FX) and perhaps books on color grading and storyboarding.
And if you are interested in writing, Stephen King's On Writing is great.
Take advantage of the internet, seriously, [hundreds,] (http://www.theblackandblue.com/2010/11/16/100-great-resources-for-cinematographers-camera-assistants-and-film-professionals/#jobs)
maybe even [thousands] (http://www.theblackandblue.com/2011/11/21/100-more-resources/)
of resources.
Read textbooks and TAKE NOTES I personally recommend Digital Cinematography by David Stump.
Learn the job responsibilities and the position, but just as important, the job responsibilities of the entire crew, learning their trade improves your ability to communicate with them, as well as take notice when they are doing anything right or wrong. I work as an AC and have no interest in becoming a cinematographer, but because I work hand-in-hand with them and generally find it interesting, I study everything about it.
Experiment with a camera and some lights, learn how lights and cameras interact with each-other. Cameras, lenses, and related accessories are god damn complicated and vast, but if somebody claims to be a DP I am expecting them to understand how each option effects the screen.
Forums, such as http://www.cinematography.com/ and http://www.rogerdeakins.com/ are great to browse, don't start posting on forums until you've browsed for a few days.
Seriously consider film school. The three I recommend based on people I've worked with are SCAD, Chapman, and Columbia College. I've had varying results with NYU and NYFA students.
This book is a good start:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Visual-Story-Creating-Structure/dp/0240807790/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395689894&sr=8-1&keywords=the+visual+story
Also these are great and easy to return to when storyboarding:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Vol-2nd-Techniques/dp/1615930876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395690041&sr=8-1&keywords=master+shots
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Volume-Shooting-Dialogue/dp/1615930558/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395690059&sr=8-3&keywords=master+shots
http://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Storytelling-Powerful-Conventions-Filmmaker/dp/193290705X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395690130&sr=8-1&keywords=cinematic+storytelling
Swear I'm not an Amazon affiliate, just love me these books. They're worth reading twice.
Hello /u/Terrence_Phallic - you should be able to put together an affordable production studio for £2500:
Camera
Lenses
Follow Focus
Tripod
Sound
Lighting
With this setup, you can produce well-lit, high resolution motion pictures with smooth dolly shots and green screen visual effects.
The camera has decent preamps and manual level control with audio meters and a headphone jack, so you should be able to get decent sound from the Rode recorded directly to the camera.
Later, you will want to buy an external recorder, a better microphone, more lenses, a shoulder rig, etc. - but this should get you started.
Good luck!
I would recommend the following three things
1:
Cinematographer Style- The Complete Interviews, Vol. I and II by Jon Fauer ASC
(Amazon link)
https://www.amazon.com/Cinematographer-Style-Complete-Interviews-I/dp/0935578331/
it's 110 total interviews so you get a large breath of ideas and voices it focuses a lot more on the "artistic" side of things
2:
For more "gear" and technical things I love the ASC manual. (The 10th edition is the latest version)
3: the hard thing with printed books on "gear" because it's changing so fast and often.( still great options out there) So while not a book I would recommend the ASC magazine for up to date technical information. (The magazine is mainly interviews with DPs about the latest movies coming out)
All of these things come from the ASC and for me I think are very good since they showcase a wide range of views and opinions. Also ASC is big on promoting their craft and getting new talent so the books are meant to be encouraging which is a plus.
There are tons of options available but these are my favorites.
Edit: fixed the link to be shorter. (Thanks u/TravisO !)
I would recommend reading this book https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Assistants-Manual-David-Elkins/dp/0240818687
Here's how a typical set runs in my world on a digital shoot
A Cam 1st
On set:
A Cam 2nd
Loader
Digital Utility
Camera operator
Ultimately, it's a camera team and you should all work together to help make everything run smoothly.
Despite pushing carts through mud and it raining for 6 hours and your cat just died and your girlfriend hasn't texted you back and your DP is strung out and North Korea is launching another nuke. Just remember to smile and that you could be working a desk job somewhere.
TL;DR
Ops op
1st pulls
2nd slates
Loader loads
Utility runs village
Lighting an area helps to draw the eye to it, it's a natural response. So, for example, lighting a subject/actor, making them "pop" from the background, will help the viewer's eye focus on that piece of visual space.
In opposition, using shallow depth of field to blur the background will make those details inconsequential.
Empty spaces can also help other regions of the frame became more pronounced. If your shot is mostly dark, for example, except for one area lit by low-key lighting (.e., in a noir film), then the eye will be drawn to that lit area versus the dark one.
There are several YouTube videos where DOPs will walk through how and why they lit a scene, which can be informative.
Composition rules such as rule of thirds are effective because it lends itself to what the human eye naturally finds to be pleasing in a shot. A lot of it has to do with how the shot is balanced, as a decision in aesthetics. Just remember that the visual space is where you can compose semiotics -- signs and meaning making.
I think a book in composition, such as http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Composition-Expanded-Guides-Taylor/dp/178145051X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419099021&sr=8-2&keywords=understanding+composition, that shows how visual elements can work together, would be informative for you.
The lighting limits the ability to create depth in this short. Shadows help to create what you're referring too. If you haven't read it, read this:
http://www.amazon.com/Painting-With-Light-John-Alton/dp/0520275845
It will teach you far more than I could ever hope to. The Kindle edition is a great deal too, or you could probably find a used copy on half.com for far cheaper.
This article also should come in handy: http://filmmakermagazine.com/50411-alex-buono-on-cinematography/#.UxVmWuKmVRA
There are so many great books on the subject. I love the very dated, but simply amazing first book on Cinematography Painting With Light written by John Alton back in the 40's.
I know how to make my links pretty :-).
From what I can tell this WAS shot on 35mm. This aspect ratio was added later so it probably wasn't shot 2-perf, which would give it a native 2.39 aspect ratio. (A smaller section of the film is exposed which increases grain and lowers resolution, but saves film as it only uses 2 perforations per frame).
I believe this was shot on 3-perf 35mm, I could be wrong because digital can look so similar to film if its exposed and graded properly! But I'm 85% sure this was 35mm with a matte added.
Also the compression online really makes it hard to tell.
Anyway, if you want to learn about emulating a 35mm look on digital check out Steve Yedlin's write up about it. He's a brilliant color scientist and DP. (Shot Brick, Looper and a bunch of other great films). http://www.yedlin.net/OnColorScience/
A big part of the "look" is also mixing color temperatures in the scene, as well as properly shooting some of the darker skin tones. If you want to dive deep check out Digital Cinematography by David Stump. Another genius!
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Cinematography-Fundamentals-Techniques-Workflows/dp/0240817915
This brand is great for the budget conscious. I have this version and it is excellent for the price. The fan would be noisy for video in a quiet setting where you need silence, but for most video and for stills, it's great.
Not exactly what you mentioned but "Film Lighting" by Malkiewicz is pretty much all interviews with DPs, gaffers and even some key grips. They talk a lot about the big films they've made in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Fantastic read!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439169063/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_hND1DbNSA97S6
Off the top of my head, a few books/resources that I found helpful/inspiring:
Also, watch (a lot of) films multiple times, pay attention how stories are told visually, analyze them and figure out what works and what doesn't work (for you).
check your library... it's pretty rare unfortunately... reflections is pretty good too: shows insight into how some ASC members design their light while in workshops at USC: http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Twenty-One-Cinematographers-At-Work/dp/0935578161/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=10D6HZHJ27PJ16A1PHY6 -- rent it from chegg
> 12k's/6k's/4k's/2k's? I'm assuming it's not temperature but brightness?
Correct, or more accurately referring to the wattage of the lamp in the unit (k=1000, so 12000W lamp etc); which results in differing brightness levels depending on the lamp type and optics of the light source - HMIs are generally brighter per watt than tungsten/incandescent bulbs, but reflectors and lenses in the lamp housing can change that.
>1/2 white/full white (boards?)?
> Full/Half grids?
These are diffusion filters, I think (we use the term grid here, but not 1/2 white or full white, we just say 216 which is the Lee filter number) - basically a piece of (usually) heat-treated plastic that serves to spread out the light source so that it's bigger relative to the subject. Diffusion, thanks to physics, will lower the intensity of the light, so you need to compensate for that when you use it.
Books:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0671766341
http://www.amazon.com/Set-Lighting-Technicians-Handbook-Distribution/dp/0240810759/
Studio grade LED lights aren't improving so much that you need to buy a 2017 model, in fact the best "bang for the buck" lights are these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T3W0KDS/
They even sync up, so you can take multiple ones, sync them, change one and they all follow. The other interesting light on the market, something tiny that is smaller than a pack of cards and has 1.5hrs of internal battery, I own this and mount it to the top of my camera for video sometimes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ITRLJIW/
Well, BOOKS!
Books are a great resource.
Set Lighting TEchnicians HAndbook
Film Lighting
Lighting for Cinematography
Everyone always forgets books...
Man with a Camera by Nestor Almendros
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0374201722?pc_redir=1396379709&robot_redir=1
First filmmaking book I ever read, and one of the better ones. Journalistic approach to his whole process with great anecdotes about some of the most classic films.
The Filmmaker's Eye is a brilliant basic starting point. Very easy to read quickly.
This book has been discontinued so it’s hella expensive, but it’s the best cinematography book I’ve ever come across: https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Twenty-One-Cinematographers-At-Work/dp/0935578161
I think A Man With A Camera by Nestor Almendros is one of the best books on cinematography ever written, and sounds exactly like what you'd be looking for.
I second this. The ASC is a wonderful resource, also subscribe to their newsletter they usually have links to relevant articles that didn't make the magazine along with info about upcoming events/expos.
I also found these helpful:
"Lighting for Cinematography: A Practical Guide to the Art and Craft of Lighting for the Moving Image" https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628926929/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_J5uen5Oey5Orz
"Master Shots Volumes 1,2,&3" https://www.amazon.com/dp/1615931546/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Ez-4ybHE81VH1
And "Set Lighting Technician's Handbook: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution" https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240810759/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tA-4yb18WDJFC
This one is a great little read, very informative without being patronising. Goes into some of the more advanced information as opposed to beginner knowledge. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Composition-Expanded-Guides-Taylor/dp/178145051X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419099021&sr=8-2&keywords=understanding+composition
Reflections
It's a bit outdated, as in digital cinema hadn't taken off yet, but the same principles apply.
Also American Cinematographer is an excellent magazine.
I like these little guys - https://www.amazon.com/Aputure-AL-M9-Amaran-Light-Camera/dp/B01ITRLJIW
For $50 they pack a punch, have a built in battery and you can put them pretty much anywhere since they're so small.
It might be tricky to light a whole scene with them, but if you needed to by hyper mobile for like a documentary, one or two of these would be enough to get you through.
Thank you for the suggestion! BTW, what do you mean by manipulation? Is that like the complexity? Like number of lights, unusual lenses (e.g. tilt shifts), filters etc.? Or is it a specific terminology.
I've just been making my way through the content from Aputure, Cooke Optics, Rocket Jump, Every Frame a Painting, on YouTube. In terms of books I've been reading this, this, this and this, and look forward to reading this and this.
Do you think there are any key books I am missing? I saw this book which might be more applicable to where I will likely find myself after I finish my course.
Looks like these:
http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458333618&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+led
I bought one a good while ago. Relatively cheap and has come in handy more than once.
Definitely a great start
Great book on lighting.
Film Lighting: Talks with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439169063?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The documentary is great, but the books go a lot further in-depth. Worth a read.
I did'nt really like it, It is a really complete guide on cinematography but it was really old fashioned and felt out of date when I read it.
I really like the Master Shots series
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Vol-2nd-Techniques/dp/1615930876
And also 'Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know' http://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Storytelling-Powerful-Conventions-Filmmaker/dp/193290705X/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51yVCZcPwTL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1SRNZK0W2EE9C97GFVC6
Also just try YouTube and Google. Try the cinematography database to learn about lighting http://www.cinematographydb.com/
Filmmakers IQ for in debth stuff https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSFAYalJ2Q7Tm_WmLgetmeg
On Set Filmmaking Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/user/aspiringfilm/videos
DSLR video Shooter:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMmA0XxraDP7ZVbv4eY3Omg
Now You See It, the Nerdwriter and Every Frame A Painting for some film analysis:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTFGPpNQ0Ms6afXhaWDiRw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjFqcJQXGZ6T6sxyFB-5i6A
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJkMlOu7faDgqh4PfzbpLdg
And finally just go out and shoot shot shoot!
Congrats on working on your first feature. If you haven't already I would suggest buying this It's packed full of brillant advice and information. There's a chapter on knots too!
http://www.amazon.com/Set-Lighting-Technicians-Handbook-Distribution/dp/0240810759
That's a link to the Set Lighting Technician's handbook. It's fantastic.
Painting with light: http://www.amazon.com/Painting-With-Light-John-Alton/dp/0520275845 first published in 1949. He DPd a lot of noir stuff. His writing style is very nice.
https://www.amazon.com/YN300-III-Adjustable-Temperature-3200K-5500K/dp/B00T3W0KDS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=video+lights+yongnuo&qid=1568077055&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Check out the budget lighting video from DSLR Shooter for an idea of how bright they are plus other cheap options.
Simple on camera lighting, most likely a small LED bank attached to the cameras hotshoe. Something like this
Edited to add: The softness can come from a piece of diffusion taped over the light, or they make softboxes for the light I linked.
Set Lighting Technician's Handbook is a popular one.
this is the book we are using in my cinematography class. I really like it.
In the book, New Cinematographers, Lance Acord gives good detail about how the shoot went and some of the challenges were.
Sign into Amazon and click Look Inside. You have to search inside for "Lost in Translation" for it to show up. It's on page 30.
http://amzn.com/1856693341
https://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-YN360-Adjustable-Temperature-3200K-5500K/dp/B01D2X4A8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091115&sr=8-1&keywords=yongnuo+ice+light
and
https://www.amazon.com/Aputure-AL-M9-Amaran-Light-Camera/dp/B01ITRLJIW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091130&sr=8-1&keywords=aputure+m9
you will never out grow these lights.
you can do this on a budget with a 2 of these guys. I have 2 and use them all the time.
https://www.amazon.com/Filmmakers-Eye-Learning-Cinematic-Composition/dp/0240812174/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502971148&sr=8-1&keywords=filmmaker%27s+eye
https://www.amazon.com/Visual-Story-Creating-Structure-Digital/dp/0240807790/ref=pd_sim_14_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0240807790&pd_rd_r=C197QEE8EMEY1KGN3N2E&pd_rd_w=PKzWC&pd_rd_wg=vF29K&psc=1&refRID=C197QEE8EMEY1KGN3N2E
https://www.amazon.com/Cinematography-Directors-Guide-Creative-Collaboration/dp/1932907556/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502971260&sr=1-10&keywords=cinematography
"Set Lighting Technician's Handbook." This is the one.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00139W0XM?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2
https://www.amazon.com/American-Cinematographer-Manual-10TH-Michael/dp/1467568309
I don't think there is a digital copy.
I learned from Reflections and
The Grip Book.
The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media by Bruce Block
http://www.amazon.com/The-Visual-Story-Creating-Structure/dp/0240807790
lights are almost always measured by wattage, so 12k= 12 kilowatts or 12,000 Watts.
1/2 and full white are referring to different thickness of diffusions, 1/2 white(250)= 1/2 a stop of light loss, full white(216)=full stop. most DP's Grips and Gaffers will refer to diff by its catalog number(410, 250, 216, 129, 1099)
Grids are a cloth diffusion with a grid pattern of white thread, referred to the same way as half stop and full stop.
pick up the Set Lighting Technicians Handbook its well worth it and will answer almost any question you may need answered, or talk to your best boy electric, hes probably got a copy of it in the set cart next to the fluke meter.
Usually if you tap in the lower left corner of the video on the YouTube logo, it’ll open YouTube. But here’s a link to the light: NEEWER 160 LED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L12KAbE6MT3ZZ
Multitool
crescent wrench,
phase tape (colored electrical tape),
copy of this http://www.amazon.com/Set-Lighting-Technicians-Handbook-Distribution/dp/0240810759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376759311&sr=8-1&keywords=set+lighting+technician%27s+handbook,
a few 1" spring clips,
utility knife,
sash cord,
trick line,
alcohol wipes,
BURN CREAM,
6 cube taps,
sharpies,
pens,
notebook,
hammer,
screw gun
I like where your heart's at, but honestly books just aren't going to help you much for what you're after. Everything you said you wanted to learn is stuff you learn by just doing it and seeing other people do it. Time to get your butt out on set! And if there's no set, it's time for you to buy some cheap lights and fuck around with them endlessly!
If you really want a book for the technical stuff in lighting, buy the Set Lighting Technician's Handbook. That's the industry standard reference manual for lighting.
https://www.amazon.com/Set-Lighting-Technicians-Handbook-Distribution/dp/0240810759
Know what the lights are called, and where the power is. If you're running a generator you kind of need to know what your doing, so hopefully you're not using any lights bigger than a 2k and just running off house power. Know where the fuse box is. I can't quite remember if it's each wall has its own circuit or if it's different rooms have their own circuits but don't plug in more than 2000 ways total on one circuit if the circuits are 20amp. If their 15amp don't plug in more than 1500 watts on one circuit.
Have a set crate with zip stingers, cube taps, black wrap, clothes pins and some pre cut gels near set. If you don't have any pre cut, label them as you make them and keep em for later in the show. Have some 50' & 25' Edison cables in a crate near set, have some c stands and baby stands near set, see what fixtures the gaffer thinks he will need and have them staged near set.
Keep everything as organized as you can and clean up. If you lose the gear that's on you kind of. If you haven't yet, hire a killer 3rd electrician and he can deal with set and the gaffer, you just deal with the equipment, keep it organized and ready to go. Get the plan from the gaffer and prepare as best you can to implement it when needed.
Most importantly don't do anything you're not 100% sure about when it comes to electricity. It can be dangerous, burn down houses and electrocute people dangerous, so just use your best judgement and if anyone asks you to do a tie in, tell them to fuck off and do it themselves.
Also it seems important for BBE to be grumpy and kind of get pissed if anyone asks for something to charge their phone with. So do that too.