Airglow Helps Gaffer Daniel McNutt Maintain Hacks' Signature Look On The Move

Gaffer Daniel McNutt, ICLS, who has overseen lighting on Seasons 2–5 of HBO's multi-Emmy-winning comedy-drama Hacks, has leaned on DoPchoice Airglow to preserve the show's consistent aesthetic as it enters its fifth and final run.

Starring Jean Smart as Las Vegas legend Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as writer Ava Daniels, the series spans expansive Las Vegas and Los Angeles locations — from casino floors and arena-scale theatres to sun-drenched mansions and bright office suites — demanding portable, uniform illumination for complex sequences.

Working with Creamsource Vortex fixtures and LiteGear LiteTiles, McNutt kept the look coherent across these shifting spaces. "Having done so many episodes for the same show, I have really grown to respect consistency when it comes to lighting and watching it do its part in the storytelling process," he admitted.

Collaborating closely with cinematographer Adam Bricker, ASC, McNutt's approach is anchored in large, soft sources that support the series' tonal changes without drawing attention. The first-unit package includes Creamsource Vortex 4, 8, 8S and 24S, alongside DMG Dashes, Kino Freestyle Airs, a full complement of Fiilex and Astera tube fixtures, plus HMIs for daylight work.

Maintaining that philosophy proved most challenging during walk-and-talks that thread through obstacle-filled environments. "We don't do a ton of walk and talks, but each season we do have a few, and they often carry crucial story elements," McNutt explained. "We didn't want to sacrifice our lighting approach." His solution paired DoPchoice's inflatable 4×8' Airglow Frame with flexible LiteGear LED tile lights, enabling the team to stay with the actors while weaving between slot machines and around tight corners. A 4×2' Frame complemented the rig, with carefully choreographed hand-offs that faded one source down as the other entered frame.

Beyond walk-and-talks, the crew turns to the Airglow Booklight when space is limited. "We carry an Airglow Booklight for our Vortex8s and found them useful when on location and in limited spaces," he noted. "DoPchoice has really made some nice advancements in the last couple of years with the Airglow line. I feel like it has filled a gap that I didn’t really know needed to be filled."

McNutt credits his department for executing under pressure: "I have a really good crew led by my ACLT Greg Simone, RCLT Ken Cooper, LCP Oliver Kompst, and Fixtures Foreman Camilo Lara Jr. It is so special to find such a good group of people to work with, especially when the hours are long and the pressure is on."

With Season 5 wrapped, the team's disciplined, tool-driven methodology underscores how consistent, soft lighting can carry storytelling across varied, fast-moving settings.