Help witha shot - total black

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DoubleIt

Well-known member
I have a shot that wil be done in a studio where the actor needs to be light (Studio lighting) but everything else in the room needs to be pitch black. If i just use a spot light from up top and light the actor with a sharp beam, what will the background look like? I.E. Will it be 'grainy' or will it be 'pure' black, which is what I want? If that wont do it, how do i get this pure black look? Its a somewhat complex shot - dolly/crane so it would be nice if all i need is a single spot light from up top (Or actually at an angle infront of the actor so his face has some light). Any ideas?

Script snippet;

EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
NOLAN DOZIER, 21, plunges over the edge of a tall building. An instant before impact he takes a SUDDEN BREATH.
DANIELLE (O.S.)
Nolan!
 
You could always hang black duvetyne behind the actor. This would help with absorbing any stray light. I would use a spotlight from overhead, and possibly some light coming in from the side to light the face. Harsher light I think is the key here, but the problem is the light spill. In camera, to reduce the "grain" and make it pure black, first off make sure your IRE is 0 and not 7.5, then you might want to notch your master ped down slightly, adjusting your detail levels will also help manage the grain. If all else fails, you could possibly green screen it, and add the black later. Just a thought. That way you could light the actor however you want and not have to worry about light spill.
 
I would like from above and flag off any spill in the background. It might take you some time to flag off the light right, but it should work nicely.

Rob
 
As long as the CCD's have something to go by; you shouldnt have any grain issues. It's when the CCD's have nothing to go on that the grain (feedback) comes into play. A light source as strong as you are mentioning will be fine.
 
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