Lights.... Camera... wait a minute.

[deanl]

Hey there.

I'm Just after some advice/ideas from you guys on lighting a room in a few different ways.

Ok. First of all. Lighting a room when the only source is the moonlight. There will be one window. How would you guys light it? The room has to have a pale blue tint. What kind of lights would you have outsideand inside? I obviously can't use "real" moonlight. Would you have lights inside the room too?

Secondly I will need the same room lit when the only light source is red light coming from the crack under a door. Is that possible? What kind of lighst will I need outsid ethat door? Should I fake it? Show the light coming under the door in a wide and then cut in and light the actors seperately?

Any ideas opinions welcome.

Despin out.

[Mods]

Well, I've never done it before, but this is what I'd try. I'd start with one light, set it up outside (on an extension lead), make sure its got a blue gel on it. See how it looks through the camera and move it around to play with the shadows and how well the camera picks it up.

If thats not bright enough, theres nothing saying you cant have another blue light near the camera facing the actor.

But like I say, I've never really tried it.

m0ds

[digital_biscuits]

what about lighting as normal, ans then setting the white balance on the cam to a deep blue, giving the whole image a more even tint?

[GREATwarEAGLE]

MOONLIGHT
Do you want to create the illusion of moonlight as realistically as possible. Or are you interested in James Cameron way-too-blue moonlight. Real moonlight isn't very blue at all. We're used to seeing it that way in tons of films, but that's just not accurate.

Next time your standing in moonlight, look at your arm. It won't be blue. Your interior walls, if they are painted white, might have a more noticeable blue tint. But not flesh.

If you do throw a gel over your Key, I'd use nothing stronger than 1/4 CTB. Even that might be too much. Lee filters might make a specific moonlight gel. As a matter of fact, I'd call them and ask your question.

Another idea is use only white light, then in post remove all color except for a tiny bit of blue. Tiny tiny bit, til your content.

RED LIGHT
If your actors faces are lit, even barely, from a red light coming from under the door - that's a mighty strong light on the other side. What's the source in the script?

[deanl]

Hey there.

No, I'm not after a "James Cameron way-too-blue moonlight" but I am after a pale blue tint to the moonlight. I'm making a movie not a discovery channel documentary. I have NO problem what so ever in stretching reality to make it look "good".

As for the red light. The source is only a red bulb in the hall outside the room. Again I have no problem stretching reality. I understand that the actual source would not light the room. But that is what I want it too look like.

Despin out

[GREATwarEAGLE]

You're welcome.

A possible solution to the red light room is having the actors in silhouette, framed with the window behind them. That is if in this particular scene it's not important to see their faces. But you could still hear them and make out their outline, which can still show body language.

But then again, this advise probably doesn't help, being that it came from me. And I know how much you love me. Dear ol' Despin.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 02, 2003 11:54 PM: Message edited by: GREATwarEAGLE ]</font>

[eidde]

hello

I think I would bounce a blue filtered light from the ceiling, this will give you an all over flat
light.

As far as the red is concered I would fake it.
Maybe use the same blue light bounced off the ceiling as a fill, underexpose, and shine red light on the actors faces (from below) for close ups, and try and sillouette them for any wide shots, with a bright red light leaking under the door.

good luck

[emjen]

I shot a scene between the evening-afternoon, when it's slowly getting darker in a room with a window outside.

Now, if you look outside with the camera it will look blue. But that was a bit too dark, so I just picked up a normal lamp, lit it in the corner to add some more light so I could see some more, and voila.

You could tell the difference but you could see I added another lamp.

So my advise: shoot when the evening is falling (its called dusk I believe?) This will cause a blue light, no need for a lamp outside. But inside the room you'll have to see for yourself, maybe point a lamp at the wall behind the camera. It lightens the place up it isnt noticable (very much)

[deanl]

Hey there.

The silhouette thing is a good idea. But I really like to be able to see the actors eyes. So I guess that wont work.

"But then again, this advise probably doesn't help, being that it came from me. And I know how much you love me. Dear ol' Despin."

????

Despin out.

[Generic Skinhead]

It really depends on your lighting kit. And how big your room is. Are you using a 3 chip camera?

I'm guessing you don't have a HMI lying around.

Rather than CTB you could bounce a bit of Neutral density off a poly to achieve the moonlight.

With the red you'll have to fake it, but you'll never see the actors eyes unless you put another light in the room too.

Whats the scene exactly?