Practical Lights

What is a practical light? How is it used differently than regular film production lights? What is Bradford's advice in using them for film?

Practical light is a light source that would naturally occur in a setting that can be used as a part of the lighting setup. Using practical lights increase the reality of a scene and is also convenient for the filmmaker because it is already a part of the set and therefore does not require to be hidden behind the camera. Practical lights also tend to take up less space in this matter. These lights can be used solely or used in combination with film production lights if it helps create the desired look. Bradford advises to put black on any wall that is not shown inside the frame. He specifically focuses on blacking out the ceiling or the floor which is often unseen. This way, it makes it easier to control the light in the scene.