Pat Sweeney

Pat Sweeney is a British gaffer. A late starter in the industry, Sweeney began his professional life as a motor mechanic. Sweeney entered the lighting department in 1997 when he joined Lee Lighting in Glasgow. Initially tasked with maintaining lighting trucks and generators, he soon worked on set, gradually rising from generator operator to electrician, best boy, and eventually to gaffer. His first break came by chance while working on Gregory's Two Girls, where he connected with Steve Kitchen, who offered him a best boy role in London. That collaboration became a long-standing professional relationship, spanning over 20 feature films. Throughout his career, Sweeney worked on various projects, bringing his technical skill and creative vision to each one. Notable among his credits is War Machine, shot in Abu Dhabi with DP Dariusz Wolski ASC, where Sweeney worked alongside the UAE military in what he describes as a "boys' toys" shoot, complete with Black Hawk helicopter rides. Another standout experience was The Woman in Black with Tim Maurice-Jones, his first foray into horror and a masterclass in mood lighting using gas and candlelight. Sweeney embraced the evolution of digital cinematography, seeing digital cameras as a helpful tool that enables real-time feedback and adjustment. Yet, he remains grounded in the traditional skills of lighting, as evidenced by the creative challenges he's tackled, such as simulating daylight for a scene in The Theory of Everything at Lancaster House, where he built a 120-foot blackout tent to control light and avoid interference from natural sunlight precisely. Known for his leadership, Sweeney likens managing a lighting crew to coaching a football team—putting the right people in the right roles, whether on the floor, in rigging, or keeping generators running. He also takes pride in mentoring upcoming talent, giving opportunities to crew members like Jonny Franklin, who has since become a gaffer.

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Movies as Crew (60)

Pat Sweeney

Nuremberg

The Fantastic 4: First Steps

Speak No Evil

Poison

The Rat Catcher

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Morbius

The 355

Locked Down

Dolittle

Avengers: Endgame

Holmes & Watson

Patient Zero

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Avengers: Infinity War

The Mummy

War Machine

The BFG

Bastille Day

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Bill

Woman in Gold

The Theory of Everything

Good People

The Christmas Candle

Diana

Kick-Ass 2

The Woman in Black

Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me

The Decoy Bride

Swinging with the Finkels

Foster

London Boulevard

Into the Storm

The Boat That Rocked

The 39 Steps

Easy Virtue

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

The Deaths of Ian Stone

St Trinian's

Penelope

Broken Thread

Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj

Love and Other Disasters

Revolver

The Mistress of Spices

Man to Man

Piccadilly Jim

Bride & Prejudice

Young Adam

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself

Solid Geometry

Cowboys and Indians

Large

Last Legs

Strictly Sinatra

Late Night Shopping

Gregory's Two Girls

Postmortem

Girl Group

Disclaimer

Citadel

Game of Thrones

The Deep

Bones

Lawless

Sea of Souls