Gel help please

D

DVXnNYC

Active member
Hi,

I'm about to start doing some interviews for a documentary. Before I begin and find out I don't have the things I need, I thought I'd ask you guys - the experts!

What I want:

Documentary style - medium CU, CU, etc.

I have:

One Lowell DP light at 1000k
Chimera soft box
Three tota lights - 500, 500 and 300 (replaced, but have, the 750w bulbs)

I think I will have some wonderful windows to use. Either as fill (key?) or for the views - here in the rocky mountains!

I think I should get some CTB gels if I plan on using daylight at all. But maybe people can recommend what I should get. I'd like to place an order soon so I can play around with them a bit before using them.

Anything else?

All opinions and advice welcomed.

Thanks!
Kevin
 
If you plan on using the windows and using day light as your fill then would pretty much need to get some sort of grade of CTB so you don't have color temperature problems.

I would also, if you are going to be showing the window in the shot, get enough ND to cover the window incase it to too hot. It would be a shame to not be able to use what sounds like a really good location because of a too much sun.

Also do you have umbrellas or bounce cards or flags or anything to use to control the light coming off the Totas, I have two of them myself, looking to supplement with some Fresnel's, hopefully with in the next week or so, and I know how hard they can be to control.
 
Hi,

Yes, I'm looking at several CTB gels, but I'm not sure how many of what grade, what brand, what size...ugh!

I'm planning on getting some black wrap as well. I have some umbrellas for the Totas and also some toughspun.

Unfortunately, these windows are BIG with no drapes. I won't be able to control or affect the light on them without some seriously big gels! So, I was hoping to just go with lighting gels. Bad idea?

I do also have a few bounce cards.

Thanks for the tips!
:thumbsup:
 
One more (noob) question, sorry.

If I'm using the DP light with a soft box, do I put a gel in front of the light INSIDE the soft box? Or do I forgo the soft box altogether if I use the gel? I'm unsure.

Thanks again for any help or advice.
 
As a rule of thumb for lighting docos, prepare and ask as many questions as possible but you will know only once there.
If you have enough time and ND to cover all of the windows in the background great. But another option is using a 525HMI as your key at a distance. It gives a great daylight balance with enough ompf to compare with the window light. Could complement it with a simple 2 tube blue kino as a fill from up close, alternatively an Arri300 with CTB through a dif frame. Only problem would be the ballasts they would be noisy so they would have to be placed away from the set.

But if you have a scale crew or on your own and you don't have the time, better position the subject away from the window. Use a traditional 3 point and place a prac or two in the background. As for the light coming in from the window, you can try and match the temp with a CTB. Start with a 1/4 and work your way up to full, change until it looks rite. I normally put the gel in front of the soft box if used, not the light itself, easier to access and add on, others may do so differently.

What ever the set up, I reckon always bring enough lights for a basic 3 point + 1 prac, at least. A good, cheap and commonly used setup is a 3 piece 800W red head kit, bring CTOs as well as CTBs and a basic color correction gel kit (planned for indoors? Well plans may change) cause one thing is for sure with docos you never know...
 
Ok, as with what he said, if you need a place to buy your gels or brand I usually use Lee Flitters, them or Roscoe (Did I get that right). Get 1/2 or 1/4 CTB and CTO as well as some diffusion and .3 and .6 ND. You won't need to ND the whole window if you want to use, (you may not even have to ND it all), if you do have to ND it, just do the parts that you can see so it isn't blown out. Granted if your working alone and on a time constraint it changes a lot and then, as Coldpizza said, don't even bother with the window and try to get the most interesting indoor shot you can. Good luck.
 
James-

Thanks for the specifics and brand advice. I am going to place an order today through B&H (I have to order other things through them anyway) and they seem to carry Roscoe and Gam. Are you familiar with Gam? And I'm guessing I just buy a few sheets of each right?

Thanks again for your help. I know it's impossible to anticipate what I might need before I get to the actual location, but I figured it would be helpful to have at least some "weapons" for the lights. Yes, as of now, I'm alone in this project and time is a bit of a factor. So, as I understand, being creative and doing the best with what you have is part of the documentary credo.
:beer:
 
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