Companhia de Luz is a dynamic rental and production company based in the beautiful and vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, led by lighting designer and director of photography Arthur Farinon, and this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, since it was founded in 1985 by his father, Juarez Farinon.
The company has consistently invested in Robe moving lights over the years, starting with LEDWash 600 more than a decade ago, which at the time were needed for both live and television projects. Since then, they have expanded their inventory with models such as LEDWash 1200, LEDBeam 150, Pointe, BMFL, RoboSpot, and more recently, iFORTE.
Arthur explained that they are big fans of Robe and currently have nearly 400 of their products in the rental inventory, all in constant use. They are used in Arthur’s own design projects as well as in many others where Companhia de Luz acts as a top-tier rental partner with an outstanding reputation.
Juarez Farinon began his career as an actor, which led him to work with lighting both on stage and behind the scenes. He was one of the pioneers of stage lighting design in Brazil, and his passion led him to build his own equipment and explore more experimental approaches to how light can transform live and recorded environments, including theatre, television, and music. Today, he remains active and involved in various projects.
Arthur and his brother Gabriel grew up immersed in this creative industry. Their mother was a television art director, so lighting and performance were in their DNA. Arthur has carried on that passion, making light his career and way of life.
Although he was not legally allowed to work on events until he was 16, long before that he would sneak into gigs to assist his brother with lighting at electronic music events and raves. One of the things he loves most about this industry is that there is always something new to learn—every day is an opportunity to grow.
The decision to continue investing in Robe is based on what he describes as:
Innovative, highly reliable, robust, and well-designed products – they are extraordinary tools for anyone involved in creative lighting.
In addition to developing his own skills as a lighting designer, Arthur has also worked for years as a programmer for other LDs. One of his first major design projects was with singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento, with whom he worked for 10 years.
Companhia de Luz provides lighting across a wide range of sectors: television, live events, concert tours, and also offers technical services for several key venues.
In television, they work with premium clients like TV Globo, one of Brazil’s leading free-to-air networks, which operates a huge studio complex in Rio. For Globo, Companhia de Luz provides both effects and scenic lighting for shows such as Big Brother and The Voice. Around 40 of the company’s employees are dedicated exclusively to coordinating and working with Globo.
In addition to all the fixtures having excellent and versatile features, Robe is a highly respected brand and people enjoy working with it, says Arthur, referring to the many lighting designers and DOPs they collaborate with.
He explains how iconic Robe products like the Pointe made a big impact on the Brazilian market thanks to their versatility and multifunctionality, which allow you to achieve a lot even with a few fixtures. He also considers RoboSpot to be a true game changer.
The company currently owns four RoboSpot systems and was the first in the country to adopt this technology. “RoboSpot is another incredible Robe tool that can make a huge difference in how many productions are lit, both live and for TV, and it also makes the crew’s job easier and safer”.
Their RoboSpot systems are always in use and in high demand, and Arthur finds the iFORTE impressive, highlighting its brightness, high CRI, flat beam field, and other standout features.
As a brand, Robe is always innovating and bringing fresh ideas to the table, which in turn provides new possibilities for designers and productions. It’s clear that they invest in technology that is accessible to everyone, he notes.
Arthur loves the fact that lighting can influence emotion so powerfully when used imaginatively, and in that sense, he describes it as "a powerful and beautiful art".
Companhia de Luz maintains a family spirit where everyone grows together, creating an environment of collaboration, learning, and professional development. The company provides real opportunities to those looking to build a career in the lighting industry, and is the starting point for many of Brazil’s new talents in the field.
“We are very proud and happy to maintain this process and be part of an incredible community, ensuring that the knowledge and experience we continue to gain is shared and valued”, concludes Arthur.
