In this episode of The Ajyal Show, we shine a light—literally—on the role of the gaffer with longtime industry professional Joseph Riachi. What began as a weekend job during his computer science studies quickly lit the path toward a creative life spent exploring the layered craft of cinematic lighting.

Joseph reflects on his unexpected journey from student to set technician, walking us through how a fascination with lighting on music videos and early short films grew into a deeper calling. Today, he plays a crucial, if often unseen, role in the filmmaking process: translating the cinematographer’s visual vision into light, form, and feeling.

From first location scout to final setup, Joseph shares how he reads a space: mapping out power access, analysing natural light, and selecting tools to sculpt atmosphere. He explains the difference between lighting for digital sensors and film stock, and how subtle shifts in colour, intensity, and direction can profoundly alter a scene’s emotional tone.

Throughout the conversation, we learn how a gaffer’s work is part science, part instinct, and all collaboration. Joseph offers seasoned advice for emerging filmmakers: communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and always come prepared. Whether it’s a pair of gloves, a light meter, or a backup plan for a missing cable, his on-set essentials are as practical as they are revealing. This is an episode for anyone curious about the invisible craftsmanship that brings cinematic worlds to life, where every frame is painted in light, and every shadow tells a story.

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