Making someone sweat (literally) and sex scene

cheeseandachallenge

cheeseandachallenge

So I have two questions (figured I best lump them into one).

I need a macro shot of someone sweating. Any advice on this? Where is the easiest place to point the camera? How do i actually make them sweat (it's winter here, and we're shooting in a house with not the greatest heating)?

Secondly, I'm shooting a short, non-explicit but still uncomfortable sex scene. It's intended to be dehumanising and an uneasy sequence. I know how it's going to be shot and choreographed, and I have two actors who are really behind the story and willing to do it - but I know it's going to be uncomfortable for them. Any advice on making them feel better, etc? It also mostly relies on aural elements from the girl to make it uncomfortable (which I think is going to be the most awkward part to film).

On top of that, we're shooting in a bathroom at a business, which has fluorescent lights. Is there anything I need to know about fluorescents? I feel like I read something about shutter speeds having to be different when using fluorescents, but I can't find where i read that.. or am i just overanalysing? I don't have a chance to go there and do any tests.

Cheers.
 
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cheeseandachallenge said:
So I have two questions (figured I best lump them into one).

I need a macro shot of someone sweating. Any advice on this? Where is the easiest place to point the camera? How do i actually make them sweat (it's winter here, and we're shooting in a house with not the greatest heating)?
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Mix 3 parts glycerin to 1 part water. Put in a spray bottle. Spritz the actor. You may want to adjust the ratio of glycerin to water.

You may also want to try lightly rubbing the actor with baby oil, then using a spray bottle of water. This is best for when they are to look wet and sweaty.

Do a patch test on the actors to make sure they do not have an adverse reaction to the glycerin or oil.

Secondly, I'm shooting a short, non-explicit but still uncomfortable sex scene. It's intended to be dehumanising and an uneasy sequence. I know how it's going to be shot and choreographed, and I have two actors who are really behind the story and willing to do it - but I know it's going to be uncomfortable for them. Any advice on making them feel better, etc? It also mostly relies on aural elements from the girl to make it uncomfortable (which I think is going to be the most awkward part to film).
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This is where the interpersonal skills come into play. You have to know your actors and know what to say and how to behave around them to make them at ease. Some may feel better if you joke around. Others may feel better if it is very professional and cold. Hopefully you know your actors well enough to put them at ease.

Keep crew to a minimum. Keep any would be onlookers away. Have somewhere away from where you are shooting the actors can go between takes and set-ups. This gives them a chance to step away from the set and remember it is a movie.

If they are naked or minimally clothed, have robes and such available for between takes.

Have snacks and drinks on hand. Some kind of decaff beverages or warm tea might be good and soothing. Have mints, gum, mouthwash, and other breath aids on hand just in case one of the actors smells or tastes funny.

On top of that, we're shooting in a bathroom at a business, which has fluorescent lights. Is there anything I need to know about fluorescents? I feel like I read something about shutter speeds having to be different when using fluorescents, but I can't find where i read that.. or am i just overanalysing? I don't have a chance to go there and do any tests.
Cheers.
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My instinct is that you will have less issues with flickor than with color balance. However, I'm not a DP or gaffer by trade so I defer that to the camera and light guys.
 
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Your other questions have been addressed pretty well, so I'll just answer this:

cheeseandachallenge said:
On top of that, we're shooting in a bathroom at a business, which has fluorescent lights. Is there anything I need to know about fluorescents? I feel like I read something about shutter speeds having to be different when using fluorescents, but I can't find where i read that.. or am i just overanalysing? I don't have a chance to go there and do any tests.
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Fluros, especially older ones, can certainly flicker. You'll have to look at a frame in camera to know if they do or not. It's usually more prominent shooting off speed.

More importantly, most fluros have a spike in the green spectrum, which looks pretty ugly. Minus green on them works well, otherwise you can add plus green to other lights and then balance it out later.

Kino Flo tubes are colour correct and fit into normal household flourescent fixtures. They also make colour correct bulbs for a number of different uses (search KinoFlo TrueMatch)
 
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jax_rox said:
Fluros, especially older ones, can certainly flicker. You'll have to look at a frame in camera to know if they do or not. It's usually more prominent shooting off speed.

More importantly, most fluros have a spike in the green spectrum, which looks pretty ugly. Minus green on them works well, otherwise you can add plus green to other lights and then balance it out later.

Kino Flo tubes are colour correct and fit into normal household flourescent fixtures. They also make colour correct bulbs for a number of different uses (search KinoFlo TrueMatch)
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Ok, so it should be obvious on my camera monitor? (I have had issues in the past that I didn't see on the camera monitor, and only realised when reviewing the footage on a computer).

mmkay, Ill look into both of those. The minus green will probably be easier to get a hold of (though finding places in New Zealand who do this stuff is always a hassle). I'm also only going to in a different city until the day before the shoot, so it may be difficult to find out what *strength* gel i need, etc. How difficult would it be to correct the colour in post? (I don't normally go for the approach "fix it in post", but it may be the more practical option here)
 
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1. Drinking hot tea, doing exercise should get sweat quite quickly and macro lense will catch that.

2. If you want a scene to be uneasy,shouldn't you make actors feel uneasy?

3. Do you have any lighting? You could simply avoid using floros and bounce ceiling (if you want to simulate) and whitebalance accordingly to get the green look. You could color correct floros,if you like their output/quality
 
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Regarding 2 and 3:

2) I get where you're coming from. But i think that element will exist either way. Most of the uneasiness will come from the cinematography, anyway. But I have faith that my actors will be able to deliver the necessary performance, even if they feel comfortable. Because of these two factors, i don't want to be that asshole director who takes things to extremes, when they're achievable without making people feel shit.

3) and no, I don't. I use worklights every now and then, but I don't like doing it. I am going to a film school in a few months, so am holding off buying lighting and other such gear, as the gear they let us use is superior to the low lever stuff i would buy. The fluro lighting may actually help the unnaturalness of the scene though..
 
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If you want somebody sweating for real, let him exercise (running up and down the stairs will do) while wearing a lot of clothes - one coat over the other. After a few minutes he will sweat...

As for the sex scene, it's really a matter of working closely with the actors. If they can get into character they can forget about the uneasiness. If one of them can't, let him concentrate on doing something else. The girl can try searching for a lump on the guy's back, or try to catch imaginary insects that are crawling between the blankets. Try making it into a game. Let them forget they are acting. I don't know if it will work for them, but it could be an interesting experience.
 
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cheeseandachallenge said:
On top of that, we're shooting in a bathroom at a business, which has fluorescent lights. Is there anything I need to know about fluorescents? I feel like I read something about shutter speeds having to be different when using fluorescents, but I can't find where i read that.. or am i just overanalysing? I don't have a chance to go there and do any tests.
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The biggest issue you'll have is color balance. You need to set your color to handle that, probably by shooting a gray card and using a custom WB. If you use any additional lights, you have to use similar fluorescents or you have to gel them to be the same color. If you don't, you'll get green shadows everywhere and that will suck on post. I've run into this before and didn't have the proper gels for converting tungsten to daylight. Save yourself a lot of time and get a set of them.

Assuming you're in the US at 60Hz, if you shoot at 30 or 60fps, it's possible you might notice a slow pulsing of light between frames or even inside a single frame. I'm pretty sure that any other speed will be fine.

Without definitive evidence, I would guess that slower shutter speeds would be better, too.
 
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Although you are not asking specifically about audio, but I would also point out that sometimes corporate flourescent lighting can create a hum in the audio that is a little distracting depending on the location on how you are recording your audio.

Perhaps some sound specialists on the board can be more specific.
 
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