Guerrila lighting (rooftop set) for Music Video

"I know that in FILM this is a nightmare but on video I am hoping is not as bad"

It's worse...

Perhaps I'm confused, is it rooftop daytime and indoor club location nighttime?

BTW, If it were me, I'd get the 3 arri lights, stop by pier1 or costplus or ikea and pick up 3 chinese lanterns and pack up every shop light or other light I had lying around...

Nothing beats a REAL fresnell, and you could use the china balls for quick and easy fill.

I don't know what your shots are, but I shot a music video in a club and there are a couple of shots with people seated around a table similar to your indoor location. I hooked up a 200w fresnell above the table and lit a bounce card on the table to light up their faces. Filled the shot with a 4' kino (a couple of china ball would have done the same thing) with green gell.

I think it might be online here:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=802125633&n=2
 
i,
It's the outdoors what scares me the most.
The indoors might be a bit manageable... i might kil it though... who knows. But good tips!
I'm going to hunt down those chinese lamps, maybe two gold reflectors and a bounce card. Getting a couple of 200W white bulbs, maybe 4 100W ceramic color bulbs of different colors... work lights? I might get access to an arri kit.
I really like the green light from the top in the table scene!


filmat11,
interesting! i requested EyeWide Shot to give to pay close attention to the lighting... I remember the scene though.... I think the lights were everywhere. I am anxious to get the dvd on my hands.

Ed
 
From what I was told, they draped and stapled a few strings of lights to a large white board, and moved with talent, to provide soft fill light. The entire scene was not ALL christmas lights, sorry if I left that impression.
Good luck on your upcoming shoot, please post some stills after you have completed principal photography....
 
I will defenitely post some screen grabs and the video when it gets done.
Apparently, the shoot will postponed until next weekend but I am so anxious to start already.

Thanks for all ya help filmat11. I will let you know when I have something to show.

Ed
 
Yeah, please do, and if you post it in the clips section, let us know in this thread...
 
I JUST SAW A COMMERCIAL FOR SOME WOMENS HEALTH MEDICATION, THAT LOOKED AS IF IT WAS SHOT ON THE SAME ROOFTOP..IF i SEE IT AGAIN, I WILL SEND YOU THE NAME.. IT LOOKS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO YOUR ROOFTOP SET..I WAS AMAZED...
 
EdMista said:
I have an incomplete Lowel Kit: 3 Tota Lamps with only one stand. Need to get two extra stands. I have 3 regular lamps from Home Depot (the circular silver ones). And one big double flourenscent light with daylight bulbs.

BTW... you also mean sticking christmas lights under the actual umbrella fabric? I wonder if it would look to odd if there is some kinda of light comming down from every umbrella.

Again... Good ideas!

Since you have no budget..I would use the 3 home depot lamps with PH211 75w bulbs or PH212 150w and put some CTO's on some or other color gels and place them around the set to give it color. Since your set is so red maybe take advantage of this by lighting a few umbrellas or the folliage with different gels so that it will come out as different color when shot. You will have to experiment beforehand which will work best for you. As for the interior shot...China latterns may be the way to go..In the movie Lost in Translation...the light person in the club used weather balloons as a option..but that can be costly. You might get additional little flashlight table lanterns to illuminate the tables and also try to take advantage of the tile in the background for bouncing light (ie using a strobe or disco ball to make your set more alive) Perhaps even adding some lava lamps would be a cool option. Look here to get some ideas for outside.

http://www.restaurantlights.com/cat...d=766&osCsid=ff7b2886fd0bdff8f7a309edf18391f9
 
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Filmat11,
WOW. I would like to see that commercial!!! BTW I know that at least a Campari commercial was shot there. I don't know which one.

Smithy,
Yes, I was actually thinking of using a china ball in the black tile room and you ideas for the rooftop set up is really good.

Unfortunately guys, and especially to my dismay, the person in charged of managing the band let this project fall through and disappeared... just little before actually shooting it. You can already imagine that amount of work I put into it but I consider just another experience to learn from. I would have been more than happy and proud to show you guys the project.

I am working on a new Music Video and hope to shoot it soon, meanwhile I have been involved in an animated commercial spot.

Oh boy!

I am more than grateful to you guys for all the great advice. I will surely apply it to this project. Punk Rock video ;)
 
Ed, with all those white buildings around the roof, and all the red decor, I'd go try a daylight light test and see what effect you get if you OVEREXPOSE and use a LOT of white silks blowing in the wind for backdrops and effect.

Be sure to use a silk to drop a stop for the actors, and to give nice attractive soft light....

If you meter for the either the skin tones, or the red awnings, then OVER it 1/2 to 1 stop, you will blow most everything else out to white and bring all the skin tones up. If your talent is black, could try a warm filter which will make the slightly overexposed skin glow. The red will likely get crazy and give wild results in a distinctly videoish way... but some peope spend a ton in post to get that look in their film.

I certainly wouldn't try this without doing a light test first.

But I think you could create a very windy, flowy, bedouin type scene with little more than all that hot red, and some flowing white silks.
 
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