Lighting small rooms with two lights?

[VladCantSleep]

I'm going to be shooting a web series very soon, and a large part of it takes place in an apartment. The only location that is readily available to use is quite small. I already purchased a wide angle lens for my camera because a wide shot is incredibly hard to get in the cramped quarters. Another problem I'm facing is lighting. I only own two lights (1000 watt halogen work lights), and I've used them to light things in bigger spaces with the use of a reflector... However, now, I'm having trouble figuring out how to light this one.

Here is the main set up: Two characters sitting at a table, having a conversation. The table rests in the middle of the room, but can be moved if need be. The entire room is maybe 6m by 5m, and I'm being a little generous in the estimation. There is other furniture there, as well as a TV, but all of it can be moved and repositioned however. There is a balcony on one of the walls with a fairly big window. I don't think I'll have trouble lighting the closeups, but the wide shot is what I'm worried about. Any creative ways to light something like this in such a small space? Would placing a fill light on the balcony be of any use?

 

[knightly]

pictures of the location so we don't have to visualize? Perhaps an overhead sketch?

 

[directorik]

Is there any way at all that you can get a few of those clamp-on
lights? About $10-$15? If you can - and DYI a few light stands -
you can light a little room like that really well. How about a
paper lantern?

Set your 1000 behind the camera - pointed at the ceiling. If you,
can put that outside aimed through the window.

Place a clamp light. Put a clamp light as close to the ceiling as
you can in each corner behind the actors - aiming down at them.
Use some heavy foil to direct the beam and keep the light from
hitting the walls. Place another clamp light on the floor (use
heavy foil again) to throw a shadow on the wall. Use a paper
lantern (on a dimmer) hanging above the actors to light their
faces.

If you can't do any of that, place one of your lights outside and
one behind the camera aimed at the ceiling.

 

[Instag8r]

Is there any way at all that you can get a few of those clamp-on
lights? About $10-$15? If you can - and DYI a few light stands -
you can light a little room like that really well. How about a
paper lantern?

Set your 1000 behind the camera - pointed at the ceiling. If you,
can put that outside aimed through the window.

Place a clamp light. Put a clamp light as close to the ceiling as
you can in each corner behind the actors - aiming down at them.
Use some heavy foil to direct the beam and keep the light from
hitting the walls. Place another clamp light on the floor (use
heavy foil again) to throw a shadow on the wall. Use a paper
lantern (on a dimmer) hanging above the actors to light their
faces.

If you can't do any of that, place one of your lights outside and
one behind the camera aimed at the ceiling.

Spot on advice.

 

[VladCantSleep]

Is there any way at all that you can get a few of those clamp-on
lights? About $10-$15? If you can - and DYI a few light stands -
you can light a little room like that really well. How about a
paper lantern?

Set your 1000 behind the camera - pointed at the ceiling. If you,
can put that outside aimed through the window.

Place a clamp light. Put a clamp light as close to the ceiling as
you can in each corner behind the actors - aiming down at them.
Use some heavy foil to direct the beam and keep the light from
hitting the walls. Place another clamp light on the floor (use
heavy foil again) to throw a shadow on the wall. Use a paper
lantern (on a dimmer) hanging above the actors to light their
faces.

If you can't do any of that, place one of your lights outside and
one behind the camera aimed at the ceiling.

Wow, thanks for the amazing response! How powerful do the clamp lights have to be? And where is a good place to get them? And do you have any suggestions for hanging a paper lantern?

 

[directorik]

60w - 100w - 150w. Get globes of different wattages and see
what works best for your specific shot.

Try a hardware store.

You know those hooks used to hang plants? Most of them simply
screw in - try that. You might just need to attach the lantern to
the end of a stick and hold it in place during the shot. Time to use
your creativity.