Average setup time?

Steve Laramie

Steve Laramie

Veteran
Just wondering what you guys would say the average lighting setup time is for a DP. I know I will get yelled at if I dont give an example scenario. So lets say shooting HVX200 with Redrock M2 with a DP, AC, Key grip, Best boy, PA... 2 actors laying in bed talking at nighttime talking drama. I just want to know if I am slow or if I can take more time. For this I would setup american stands outside of windows and shoot half CTB light through windows and through venetian blind cookies and then figure out room ambience.
 
Assuming power is available and not a block away and my equipment is able to be carted in reasonably close to the room if not in the room. I'd say 30-45 minutes including unloading the van up until being completely ready. Thats also assuming I've been given a shot list and storyboards and I know relatively what will and wont be in the shots.

Van unloads in 10 minutes another 10 to set lights outside the window and then 10-20 to figure out the motivation for interior lighting as well as setting those lights. But its all a guess - have I seen the room? Is it really small? Low ceilings? Do we have enough power? Are there other issues I have to work around that I may or may not know about yet? any fire hazards or structural issues?

Most if not all of this can be answered in pre-pro during location scouting which you should be a part of but for one reason or another you may not be. The more I know about the location and the lighting setup the faster I'll be. The less I know or the more that changes on set, the slower I'll be. Thats why its so crucial to get as much info beforehand even if you have to nag and be persistent. Time in pre-pro is cheap - time on set is $$$$$$$$.

The experience of the rest of the crew play a huge role as well. Its all about the team.
 
I agree with Jeff, about 30-45 minutes. If there are too many unknowns or difficulties it may take up to an hour.
 
It REALLY depends on the units being used, and the complexity of the lighting for that particular setup. I may have an 18k on a super crank coming in from a hundred feet away, which needs a line of power run to it as well as several guys to put up, or it could be a 2k bounced in which draws right from the house, with one man building it. Totally different effects and dramatically different setup times. It's almost impossible to estimate a setup time until you have at least seen the location and know what a particular scene/shot calls for.
 
1st or 2nd floor bedroom ?

It's a night time scene -- but will you be shooting it at night? I've done night-time scenes where we had to tent the windows and use our own moonlight ...

all time factors
 
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