Last night I watched the John Carpenter film, "Assault on Precinct 13" and have an observation/question about what happens when "the lights go out". The beginning of this film (not the opening sequence) is shot in what appears to be a late afternoon, high cloudy day in Los Angeles. So we start off with subdued outdoor lighting. As time progresses the outdoor light continues to dim at a subtle rate. Then we move into the precinct building. A poorly lit to start with indoor set, but effective to the mood required of a "dead" police station. Time continues to pass until dusk overcomes the sunlight outside. This concurrently reestablishes the fact that the lighting inside is low-wattage with light bulbs made in the 50's or something. Overall the darkening of light has matched the darkening of the main characters moods. Then it happens. The power is cut from the outside of the electricity in the house. And my gut sank, thinking, oh no, am I going to have to sit through the rest of the movie squinting to make what is going on? And within two minutes or so I found that the answer was NO. Somehow, and I can't tell from this first viewing how he did it, it was not difficult to view the characters in the dark Like some kind of inner glow of the characters desire to live was being mimicked by the technical lighting on the set. (Mind you, I didn't think this when I watched the film, it came to me today.) Also made me think that if this is the subtle work of a mastermind director, then WOW. (Leonard Maltin rates this film ***1/2) Any like or contrary thoughts out there? Darragh ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.