Halogen or Flouresent?

ShamrockFilms

ShamrockFilms

Well-known member
Before you tell me to use the "search" feature. I have done that.

I know that Flouresent lights:

1. Consume less energy than Halogen

2. Won't burn your fingers off like Halogens do.


To Halogen or not to Halogen, that is the question.
 
halogen

you have the option of diffusing it, or makign a hard light, stronger light, more direct light, yadda yadda.

much more versatile.
 
I'll be going for a lot of hardlight lighting (fills only on women) in my gangster film. If I can't do that with flourecent you answered my question.
 
Any large source, like a fluorescent bank is by nature soft. If you want hard light then you need a point source. The size of the source versus the distance to the subject is what defines a source as hard or soft.
 
So the closer my "source" gets to the "subject" the "harder" it gets? I think I can remember that. Size doesn't matter? Or it does matter?
 
No, just the opposite.

The closer the source is to the subject the larger it is in relationship. Look at the hard shadows that the Sun casts. The Sun is very large yet is a hard source due to the distance between it and any subject on the planet Earth.
 
Ah an attempt at humor, now I get it. You think that the image in my signature line is me.

Guess again...

its my youngest daughter.
 
Thanks for the comment, not much Irish in her lineage, but Irish is one of her dialects! As for going far, she is doing great with more credits at the age of 17 than most actors 3 times her age.

Keeps us plenty busy.
 
Good to hear. you must be proud. Thanks for the help with the lights. Can you suggest a reputable place I can order a kit online?
 
What type of kit (in terms of the number of heads and size of the sources) did you want to consider?

What is your budget?

How big of an area and at what level of illumination do you anticipate needing.

Don't know about the rental houses in Boston, but if you were in the LA area I would always suggest renting for a period of time until you can build up a base of experience to know what will work best for your needs.

I own a number of sources but I usually rent something for nearly every project that I shoot. There are so many different types of instruments that no single type or brand is going to be universally the best choice for all situations. The good stuff is pretty pricey and unless you are shooting all the time, it is hard to justify owning a lot of it. After some time you will discover certain things that you keep coming back to, these are the ones that you should purchase.

Better to rent and learn than purchase and regret.

PS As for being proud of her accomplishments, I am beyond words.
 
It can be tough, but if you have all the tools lined up, you can get work.

I don't know where you are located, that can make a big difference.

The caliber of your agent can also make a difference in getting you auditions, but in the end, it is your skills that will get you the jobs. Unless you fall into the celebrity status category, its all about what you bring to the audition. Once you get a bit of a reputation, then the work that you have already done will go a long ways to getting you in the door and if you are truly gifted and more than a bit lucky you might end up in the "offer only" status (there are but a handful that hold this status at any one time).

You need training, a great headshot, some real credits and a huge willingness to be rejected to do well as an actor.
 
im with http://www.glenntalent.ca/en/home.php

montreal based, and i've got a decent resume, my skills are there, technique always improving with every new experience. I have the confidence but now its just about timing, and hoping that im the look the people are going for, otherwise ill take charge of my own future, finish film school, become a reputable filmmaker and find interesting ways to pursue acting from there.
 
You have a distinct disadvantage being based in Montreal and not LA if you are looking for the better roles. Even with all the production that goes (at least up until recently) into Canada, it is for the wrong reason from your perspective as it is all about saving money. The lead roles are cast in LA and they use "local hires" for the secondary roles. If you are serious, you need LA representation.

I would suggest that, at a minimum, you consider an agency that has offices in both markets. At least then you would stand a chance of getting submitted for the better roles and that the submissions would be considered based upon the reputation of the agency.

Best of luck, its not an easy thing to accomplish.
 
The best energy efficient hard light is an HMI. If your looking for dramatic hard light then thats a great way to go and is "cooler" than halogen. Whereas fluorescent is great softlight and is efficient to the tune of 40 to 60 lumens per watt, HMI (otherwise known as "metal halide") gives more like 80 to 140 lumens per watt. Tungsten is just 10 lumens per watt to compare. And while most of the HMI's fixtures and bulbs on the market are 5600K in color temp, there are 3200K bulbs available. But it doesn't really matter because your white balance will make either look great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top