Lighting this situation

J

Jerryv

Active member
Hello everyone!

I am a long time reader, first time poster on this forum.
And in about a week or so, iam the owner of the DVX100b :)

I have 3x1000 watt videolights (but i can buy lesser bulbs) with umbrella's.

I need to film 3 men around a table, playing Axis and Allies.
I have taken a still from E.T., its almost the same setting as i want to look mine (but i have a small room, and a large table, wich is not round)

Can someone explain to me, how i can achief something like this?
Because if i point my camcorder (trv60) to a very bright object, like the lamp in the still, than it will get overexposed, or it will underexposed the room (so i will get a almost black room with a good exposed lamp)

But maybe this is different on the DVX100b? (there are a lot of manual controles, so...? )

I have no idea how i can light something like this!
Any suggestions are very much welcome!

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7154/cap001lh2.png

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5986/cap002sa5.png

Jerry.
 
DVX does have little bit more dynamic range but don't expect miracles. That shot was achieved by using film and I would believe a lot of extra light in the background as well. So that's excatly what you must do also.
 
But do you think the main light is coming from the ceiling lamp?

Or do you think the use a very low lighting bulb in the lamp (so it wont blow out)?
 
Thats a problem.. i can use a regular lightbulb (100watt) but than are my 'real' videolights too bright (for filling in the shadows)...

I cannot place my videolights (Hedler) into a lamp unit!

So... any options there?

Thanks!
Jerry
 
Place your key light up high, aimed toward the surface of the table to simulate the fixture that's in the shot. Then use smaller wattage lights to accent in other areas of the frame.
 
What do you meen by: fixture?

And the key light IS the lamp, right? (i cannot place real lights in it, other than lightbulbs...)
 
HorseFilms said:
Place your key light up high, aimed toward the surface of the table to simulate the fixture that's in the shot. Then use smaller wattage lights to accent in other areas of the frame.
Click to expand...

good advice.
 
Yes, the lamp is the main source of light.

If you could get enough light from that ceiling lamp to illuminate your actors proberly you could use the 1000wats as background lights and put some diffusion on them to match the exposures.
 
The lhanging lamp is the Key

Use practicals in the background

Use fill on the actors faces and cieling where needed
 
Jack up one of your 1k lights (out of frame) and aim it at the surface of the table. You may have to diffuse it a little. That will simulate that light that is hanging over the table (unless that light is enough for you, then just go with it, as is). When you're happy with that, start using other lights in other areas of the frame that you need to highlight. Again, diffusion may be needed.
 
You might also consider to use a china lantern high and above to create the ceiling light...but be careful of wattage due to the fact it can catch on fire if you use the wrong wattage. Then use fill lights for creating shadows and use bounce cards (foamcore) to be used to create definition.
 
Oke, so iam using the lamp from the ceiling AND a 1k light, the 1k light is standing on the ground (not hanging on the ceiling) and i aim it at the table. The light shines on the table -from the side- so the table is lit.

But everyone will see the light is coming from a different place i think...
And the 1k light is coming from the side, and not from the same place as the ceiling lamp... But you think this can work?

Did i understand it?
 
What I was thinking of is getting that light as high as you can (just out of frame), and aiming down at the table. The light will illuminate the table as well as bounce up and light your actors. It's just a thought. If it doesn't work for you, there are plenty of other ways to go about a scene like this.
 
Yep. That helps to sell the illusion. Just watch where your shadows end up so that it's not quite so obvious that you're lighting from a slightly different direction.
 
You can try that practical as your main key source, but it might not work that nicely (it may not hit everyone the way you want). Stick a whatever 25 Watt household bulb in there because it is in frame and it's just for show so try to use a wattage that will expose nicely. THEN: you'll have to meticulously key light each character (with flags, barn doors, diffusion or whatever) and also create some fill - both with off stage lights.
 
I'm surprised nobody mentioned that you might want to put an in-line dimmer on your practical. That way you can dim it down to where the camera can still tell that it is in fact on, but it won't be blown out-- and you do your real lighting with your kit, which is much more controllable. If you can't get ahold of a dimmer (it's possible to make your own at Home Depot) then you might want to consider weather there needs to be a practical in the shot at all...is the lamp neccessary to the story in some way?
 
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