Best way to get streaks of light?

W

willgote

Member
I've got a shoot in a few days that I want to have streaks of light coming through a window. I will be filming former Korean comfort women (some who are in their 80s), so cigar or cigarette smoke isn't a good solution. I've been thinking of lighting some incense sticks to smoke-up the room a little. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

It's a shame-- I don't think Tiffen has released the 'Smoque' 4x4 filters yet. They mentioned them at NAB, but that was the last that I'd heard about them. They'd suit your needs very well, I'd imagine!

http://www.tiffen.com/Glimmerglass.htm (scroll to the bottom of the page)

I can't wait to get my hands on one!

David.
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

Cool invention.

Rent a smoke machine. there are cheap machines eveerywhere. Try taking to some nightclub if rental houses prices are too much...
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

A filter isn't going to give you volumetric lighting--you need to have some sort of particles suspended in the air.  I've used Fantasy FX Haze-in-a-can with good result.  For $10-12 bucks a can, it's easy to use and does a great job adding volume to light.  Despite some heavy use in an enclosed space it never caused any respiratory problems with cast or crew.

http://spike.pnta.com/Merchant2/mer...t_Code=UFFX&Category_Code=FEA&Product_Count=7

Image14a.jpg
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

"Cloud in a Can" from Pro EFX in North Hollywood. I use it alot. Simply an aerosol can (the size of a can of spray paint) with smoke (particulates) that hang in the air. The more you spray, the thicker it gets.
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?


well i would try a fog filter, i have a fog and a double fog and although i haven't used them indoors yet i think they would give the effect you want.

alternately, i have used it yet but i got a can of fog from www.filmtools.com

i have a friend who used it a lot with great results.

matthew
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

I believe a sfx master....John Dyskstra?... from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind did a trick with using a metal can and poked holes on the bottom then shined a light from with it to get streaks of light thru the fog for his UFO scenes.. Read it somewhere a long time ago but not sure if it would work for a large window but It's a cheap SFX to not to try.
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

Fog machines or fog-in-a-can are the best for what you are looking to do. The Tiffen filters will give you an overall non-directional haze. An After Effects filter from www.trapcode.com called "Shine" will also simulate that look in post by streaking the brighter portions of an image directionally. Depending on the subject and your proficiency in After Effects the results can look completely realistic, but sometime it can also look slightly odd.

http://www.trapcode.com/products_shine.html
http://www.trapcode.com/movies/cloudshine.mov

The video file at the link below uses Trapcode Shine for the inital "Bento Productions" title sequence. At 13:25 we used a fog machine, which was $25.00 at the local party supply store. The fog fluid is completely non-toxic and non hazardous to your health (or so it says on the label). Take the batteries out of your smoke detectors before shooting if you plan on using one.

http://www.bentoproductions.com/entropylarge.html

Matthew Lundstrom
www.bentoproductions.com
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

Use depth of field to your advantage. Also. place an item with letters on it in the percise area. This will help you focus on the fog or mist. Perhaps, you can use a black sheet on the floor to your advantage!

Tahl
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

Thanks for your suggestions guys!

Unfortunately, since I'm in Korea and don't speak Korean, I wasn't able to get my hands on a fog machine or fog-in-a-can in time for the shoot. I did, however use inscence sticks in the background on the window sill, which provided some nice background movement and accomplished close to what I was looking for metaphorically. I'm on a third party computer right now, but once I get home, I'll post a screen grab.

Since, I've found places to rent fog machines for the future.

Thanks again for your help!
 
Re: Best way to get streaks of light?

Use a very strong fresnel light source through the window and get it as far back as possible. Fresnel lens will create straight light paths and the distance creates focus and contrast. The sun also provides all the above but is a little harder to put in the exact right place when required.

Then of course all the air particle solutions above will work. I liked your joss stick solution - seemed appropriate and ingenious for the situation. Well done.
 
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