For Daniel McNutt, ICLS, gaffer of seasons 2-5 of HBO’s beloved multi-Emmy-winning comedy-drama “Hacks” (now in its fifth and final season), keeping consistent is key. The show stars Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian trying to stay relevant, and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, a young, entitled comedy writer tasked with helping the star keep from going stale. Set primarily in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the show embraces huge sets, from casino floors and stadium-sized theaters to sunbaked mansions and brightly lit office suites. The gaffer chose DoPchoice Airglow™ with Creamsource Vortex and LiteGear LiteTiles to light on-the-go walking scenes, while keeping the look coherent throughout these complex spaces.
Working closely with cinematographer Adam Bricker, ASC, McNutt has helped perfect the “Hacks” lighting recipe–a look built on large, soft sources that support the series’ shifting emotions and power plays without drawing attention to itself. The show runs a substantial first unit package anchored by Creamsource Vortex 4, 8, 8S, and 24S fixtures alongside DMG Dashes, Kino Freestyle Airs, and a full complement of Fiilex and Astera tube fixtures, plus HMIs for daylight work. “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 admits.
This guiding principle faced its biggest challenge during the show’s walk-and-talk sequences, following Deborah and Ava moving through often 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 explains. “We didn’t want to sacrifice our lighting approach.”
The gaffer needed a way to maintain the big soft source look while on the go and landed on an innovative combo that made use of DoPchoice’s inflatable 4×8’ Airglow Frame housing flexible LED tile lights from LiteGear. Thanks to the pairing, McNutt’s team was able to easily keep pace with talent through demanding locations–navigating between slot machines and rounding corners. A 4×2’ Frame worked in complement, and when required, the team choreographed transitions between the two sizes, fading one out as the other came into frame.
Beyond walk and talks, McNutt also relies on the Airglow Booklight in scenes where space is tight. “We carry an Airglow Booklight for our Vortex8s and found them useful when on location and in limited spaces,” he notes. “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.”
The show’s reputation extends beyond its writing and performances. For McNutt, the team behind the camera is a big part of what makes “Hacks” exceptional. “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 now wrapped, McNutt’s work on “Hacks” proves the importance of a sustained, disciplined lighting approach bolstered by the right tools, and what it can bring to a series.
The final season of “Hacks” premieres April 9, 2026 on HBO Max.
Learn more about DoPchoice Airglow: https://www.dopchoice.com/products/airglow-booklight/
Daniel McNutt, ICLS, gaffer
Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max
