Short film lighting

[Digital Root Films]

I wrote a script to film in the summer. Most of the scenes are at night with limited-no lighting. Any ideas? How can I light these scenes properly while making it look like real (maybe like moon)light not artificial?

Thanks in advance!
DigiRoots

 

[directorik]

Do you mean there is limited-no lighting at the location
or that you don't have any lighting equipment? Or do
you mean you have the lighting equipment but you want
advice on how to use it to get a realistic look?

If you have lighting equipment, tell us what you have and
we can help from there.

 

[Brooksy]

There is so much more to consider. Mood, existing lighting, look your going for, location surroundings, size of the shots (wide, medium, tight), camera movement. As directorik said, we are going to need far more information, maybe even a picture or two, before we can help you out with this project.

 

[Digital Root Films]

I have some lighting equipment. I have 2 or 3 halogen lights (pairs, so 5 lights almost total.) The place that I'm shooting at has no lights. I will have to provide most of it. The shots will mosty be tight with optional wide ones. Any more info needed just ask.

 

[nejuicer]

I have some lighting equipment. I have 2 or 3 halogen lights

What wattage are your lights? What type of lights - i.e. fresnel, open face par - are they? Do you have access to power on location?

- Guy Holt, Gaffer, Boston

 

[directorik]

I have some lighting equipment. I have 2 or 3 halogen lights (pairs, so 5 lights almost total.) The place that I'm shooting at has no lights. I will have to provide most of it. The shots will mosty be tight with optional wide ones. Any more info needed just ask.

I suggest you add a couple of smaller lights for fill and a
bounce board or two. Use one of the work lights as your
key light, getting it as high as possible and use a blue gel.
Use the other two (with gels) to fill the background. You
don't want the background to just go black. Even easier
to do in tight close ups - make sure there is something
in the background of the shot other than just black.

Then use the smaller lights (a clamp on work light for
example) to fill the faces of the actors. Keep several different
bulbs of different wattage's on hand so you can adjust the
light. Better yet, use a dimmer on each of the small light.
Sometimes bouncing a light off a white board as fill works
better. Experiment a lot before you go out to the location
in 6 months to get the look you want.

 

[Digital Root Films]

Cool! thanks!