Eos in the Deep: Lighting Innovation Beneath the Surface at Y-40

Lighting the Liquid Set

“Y-40 is more than a deep pool. It’s a living liquid movie set that transforms with the light,” says Benetollo. With the launch of Y-40 Studios, the site has become a premier location for ad campaigns, music videos, fashion shoots, and international TV and movie productions.

At the heart of these cinematic productions is Pro Service, the lighting and visual production company founded by Leonardo and Roberto Raccagni. Their team plays a central role in supporting directors of photography, crafting compelling underwater atmospheres through expert use of light. But creating magic underwater requires much more than just lighting fixtures. It calls for reliable, intelligent tools with real power.

“For projects like these, I always choose the ETC Ion Xe 20. It’s my favorite console,” Leonardo explains. “It’s intuitive, quick to program, and most importantly, it allows me to work with precision, even when time is tight. On sets like this, every second counts.”

Light Behaves Differently Underwater

Underwater, light doesn’t follow the rules we’re used to. Beams warp, scatter, and interact with the environment in unique, almost sculptural ways. To meet this challenge, Leonardo relies on ETC’s Eos software – specifically its Augment3d feature.

“With Augment3d, I can map the entire pool and see in real time what’s happening at every depth. It’s like having a digital window into an environment that’s usually invisible from the surface. It’s a huge advantage when planning gobo focus or precisely positioning moving heads,” he says.

Precision at Every Depth

The Y-40 pool has eight levels of depth, plunging to 42 meters in the renowned freediving cylinder. Adjusting lighting manually at these depths would be incredibly complex. But with tools like Augment3d, even this extreme environment becomes a space of controlled creativity.

To stay mobile, Leonardo also uses ETC’s aRFR app, which lets him control the lighting remotely from a tablet. “During the filming of Lo Show dei Record [the Italian version of Ultimate Guinness World Records] for Mediaset, I was able to walk the pool perimeter with the DOP, adjusting the beams in real time on the presenter and performers. Doing that from poolside or even from the underwater tunnel made all the difference.”

Solving the Challenges of Heat and Humidity

Not all the challenges are visual. Working in a consistently warm and humid environment – 34°C with ever-present thermal steam – can be tough on equipment. That’s why logistics play a critical role in every production. To keep gear running smoothly, the team often preheats fixtures and uses IP65-rated luminaires to protect against condensation, thermal shock, and potential failures.

Looking Ahead: Phi12, the Next Creative Frontier

The journey doesn’t stop at Y-40. Soon, a new space will open its depths to creative exploration: Phi12, a 30-meter-deep, open-air thermal pool built for underwater training, large-scale scenic setups, and advanced lighting experimentation.

Leonardo concludes: "Phi12 will be our new creative lab. With such expansive spaces and dramatic overhead access points, I’ll be able to experiment even more with the versatility of the Eos family of consoles. For me, it’s like bringing dreams to light — deep below the surface."