Examples of Gobos creating fake window effect?

I

iancarleton

Active member
Hey everyone,
I just learned about the technique of using a gobo in a light to create the feeling that there is a window in the scene. I was wondering if anyone had some examples of where this is used in a movie/film. Could be an indie production or a big time movie, I just wanted to take a look to see how some people have done this. Thanks!
 
One of the best I have seen is in The Departed, when Matt Damon is in his office while both the cops and gang are trying to find the rat in that building, and he's kind of like orchestrating it all. For me it really enhanced the feeling and the character Damon was portraying.
 
This is really not a hard effect. It's also known as a cucaloris or "cookie" for short. I don't have any pictures but its easy to do with a fresnel or other hard light that has some focusing capability (and you do need a hard light to do this right).

Just take a piece of something that's heat proof like a thin gauge metal or thick aluminum foil and cut out the pattern you want. Then place it in the accessory holder of a fresnel or whatever light you're using and voila you have window pattern on the wall behind your character(s). It works for lots of other kinds of random patterns too and color can even be mixed in with gels of one or more colors on top of the cookie.

Some even use cardboard to make one but they don't put it in the accessory holder as that's flammable. They usually distance that from the light unit on another stand or boom arm so it can't catch fire! You can get all kinds of variations by backing the cookie away or closer to the light.

Another instrument that works well for this is the "Leko" or ellipsoidal spot. A while back, someone posted a thread about finding an inexpensive ellipsoidal pattern projector at Ikea. Perhaps someone else could post about that as I know several DVXUser's took advantage of that small, inexpensive unit which seemed to be pretty good for that specialized use.
 
Richard's comments are worth noting.

I've only one remark to add...be VERY careful in how you do this. Usually, it is quite cliched.

Personally, I prefer to use a 5K or 10K outside a real window. There are several advantages:

1.) Nothing is as real as real. If I'm using the natural window already installed in a home to create my window effect it is going to look authentic.

2.) By using powerful instruments from a far distance the light will be more realistic. When independent filmmakers use tiny little lights and slap a cookie in front it looks "sourcy."

3.) By using powerful instruments from a far distance I don't have to relight as many shots...I can light my master, move my camera in for mediums/close ups and often I won't have to relight. At most I'll have to tweak my lights.

Lastly, I suggest never using a cookie that is straight out of the box. Cut your own from foam core. Actually by blinds and place them in front of a light. Buy a tree limb and place that in front of your light. The cookies you get from Matthews are cheesy.
 
They were 5K and 10K fresnels about 2 years ago. I couldn't afford HMI's and I've always insisted on owning my own lights.

However, now my lights are my own. I've been using my prototypes for about a year. So, now I just use Lumens to light my set.
 
Cut your pattern like a window in a piece of show card or foam core. Clip this to a c-stand or light stand and then shine a fresnel(650 or 1k) through it. The distance from the light to your pattern will vary depending on how sharp you want the pattern. If it is a wider shot then a 2k, 5k, etc is neccessary. Leakos work too but tend to not be as realistic but I find them to look pretty good if you throw them out of focus.
 
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