Best learning DVD/Video/Whatever!

pywl

pywl

Active member
Trying to find some very good instructional DVD/Video/Whatever to learn more about lighting. A few friends and I are getting together once a week and doing self taught courses over different things (dont ask, there aren't any good schools in the area for film.) In these classes we are doing setups and testing all the theory and knowledge that we come across. One of the things im ver interested in is lighting, so What are some good DVD/Videos/Whatevers that we can watch/read/devour?!?!?!
 
pywl said:
Trying to find some very good instructional DVD/Video/Whatever to learn more about lighting. A few friends and I are getting together once a week and doing self taught courses over different things (dont ask, there aren't any good schools in the area for film.) In these classes we are doing setups and testing all the theory and knowledge that we come across. One of the things im ver interested in is lighting, so What are some good DVD/Videos/Whatevers that we can watch/read/devour?!?!?!
Click to expand...

I'll try to skip the obligatory "just play around with your lights speech," but only because I haven't had any coffee yet!

There are many great resources out there. "Light it Right" is a bit rough around the edges, but has good information. "Lighting for Emerging Filmmakers" is good, but brief. Tom Musto sells a 2 DVD set for $200 or so that's pretty solid.

My recommendation, should you have to buy something? Look at Walter's DVDs.
http://bluesky-web.com/dvd1headshot.htm . They're well priced & very informative.

Man, I should be getting some sort of kickback; I feel like I've been shilling these DVDs as of late! :)

Good Luck!

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
I'd recommed two books;

The professional lighting handbook by carlson
It will give all the technical stuff

Painting with light by John Alton
It's old but very deatailed on how to use lighting. For example ionstead of the three point lighting you hear so much about, he gives you eight points of lighting to consider.

Another thing is if there is an expereinced gaffer in the area try to hook up with him. He can teach you more in one day on a set then you can learn in months out of books videos or the like.
 
Gopher_Greene said:
I'd recommed two books;

The professional lighting handbook by carlson
It will give all the technical stuff

Painting with light by John Alton
It's old but very deatailed on how to use lighting. For example ionstead of the three point lighting you hear so much about, he gives you eight points of lighting to consider.

Another thing is if there is an expereinced gaffer in the area try to hook up with him. He can teach you more in one day on a set then you can learn in months out of books videos or the like.
Click to expand...

There are many great lighting books out there, in my opinion. HOWEVER, I strongly recommend some sort of video for the lighting newbie. Some of it just doesn't make sense until you see the light actually being moved & noting the effects of that movement.

But then, everyone learns in different ways!

David Kuznicki
Production Manager, WGTE-TV30
 
Two more great books:
Ross Lowell's - Matters of Light and Depth
which has some great exercises with light in the appendix

John Jackman's - Lighting for Digital Video & Television
a very practical book for DV work

I've yet to find a video that I really like on lighting, but I'd love to find that I've missed something.
 
Hey, pywl, if you haven't visited this site, take a look at it. There's John Jackman talking about lighting. 3 hours. Enjoy. I have his book "John Jackman's - Lighting for Digital Video & Television" and I love it.

http://www.pqhp.com/cmp/dvxe05/
 
IMO, there is no better book than The Technique of Lighting for Television and Film by Gerald Millerson. A bit acedemic at first, but very thorough.
 
Awesome. thanks for the help guys. I have watched some of the John Jackman video that petelms posted (I had found it in another post). I have also watched the Kodak lighting for film (which is very basic but good). I am going to check out the books, but I am still very interested in DVD/Video. I one of those people who likes to see things in action. After I watched the kodak video I setup all my lights and tried to simulate what we saw on screen (very helpful). Any more suggestions jsut pour them on!
 
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