Wall-mounted fixture by Matthews Studio Equipment with 5/8" stud for lights up to 15kg; introduced 1967 for mid-weight LED panels and similar rigs.
The Junior Wall Plate can bear loads up to 15kg when properly mounted to a wall with M8 screws and anchors. The 5/8" spud (15.875mm) extends 38mm from the plate and accepts all standard lighting accessories. It is manufactured from galvanized or powder-coated structural steel, anodized black or silver. Variants include the Offset Junior Wall Plate (offset spud for close-to-wall mounting), the Double Junior Wall Plate (two spuds), and special corner versions with 45° angles.
The Junior Wall Plate was developed in 1967 by Matthews Studio Equipment as a cost-effective alternative to the heavier Senior version for the emerging 650W class tungsten Fresnel lights. With the proliferation of Kino Flo tube lights in the 1980s, the Junior Wall Plate became the standard for medium-weight lighting fixtures. Modern LED panels up to 1000W primarily use this mounting solution today, as they are significantly lighter than historical tungsten lights despite their high light output.
In "Blade Runner 2049," cinematographer Roger Deakins used Junior Wall Plates to position ARRI SkyPanel S60s on hotel room walls for controlled window lighting. Typical workflow: mount the wall plate with a hammer drill and metal drill bits, attach the fixture via a Magic Arm or directly, and set it up via DMX control. The advantage is permanent, stable mounting even during pans or dolly moves close to the wall. The disadvantage: drill holes leave visible marks, which can be problematic on location shoots.
The Senior Wall Plate carries up to 25kg but requires M10 fixings and costs 40% more. Modern alternatives include magnetic wall plates with a load capacity of up to 8kg for metal surfaces or vacuum suction cups for smooth walls up to 12kg. Gaffers use Junior Wall Plates for permanent sets or their own studios, while for location shoots, Manfrotto Super Clamps with 5/8" adapters or Autopole systems are increasingly preferred. For exterior shoots, ground spikes or sandbag stands replace wall mounting.
Ich nutze Junior-Wandplatten hauptsächlich für konstante Hintergrundbeleuchtung, wenn ich über mehrere Takes hinweg identische Lichtverhältnisse brauche - Magic Arms würden unter dem Gewicht meiner SkyPanels durchhängen. Bei schnellen Objektiv- oder Kamerawechseln spare ich Zeit, weil die Grundbeleuchtung stabil montiert bleibt und ich nur die Dimmer anpassen muss.
Für mich sind fest montierte Leuchten ein Mittel, um Schauspielern mehr Bewegungsfreiheit zu geben, ohne dass Licht-Setups neu aufgebaut werden müssen. In Dialogszenen kann ich spontan näher rangehen oder die Blocking ändern, ohne dass mein Gaffer jedes Mal Stative verschieben muss - das hält den Rhythmus am Set aufrecht.
Junior-Wandplatten kosten 45€ pro Stück, amortisieren sich aber durch gesparte Arbeitszeit beim Beleuchten - ein Gaffer braucht 3 Minuten zum Aufschrauben statt 8 Minuten für Stativ-Setup. Bei Studiodrehs über mehrere Wochen reduziert das die tägliche Rüstzeit um 20-30 Minuten, was bei 12-köpfiger Crew etwa 180€ Lohnkosten täglich spart.
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