How would you light this room? Video clip provided...

Zak Forsman

Zak Forsman

Major Contributor
here's the space...

http://www.sabipictures.com/LOCATIONFOOTAGE.mov

we will be shooting a group of people seated in the circle of chairs shown, sharing stories on near-death experiences for a short documentary. this causes some obvious problems. not everyone wants to be recorded so I could group the willing participants to comprise one half of the circle.

anyway... how would you supplement the natural daylight in the room? any tricks to keep it visually interesting? no ideas too outlandish! thanks!
 
if you dont have to film the ceiling. use scissor clips in the tile ceiling. You could take some of the tiles out to mount cameras as well. Also depends on what the content is about. Looks like there are Flouros in the ceiling as well. depending on your budget you could replace a few or all to be daylight balanced and brighter. Film tools carries scissor clips for around 22.00$ hope this helps!
 
try using window patterns. that will really break up the white walls. maybe make it look like there is a full moon outside and the moonlight is coming through the windows..
 
Yeah, I would definitely do something to break up the walls. Maybe use a cookie, or some color on the wall.
If you are going to only shoot half the circle, perhaps you can bounce some light off the ceiling. If you have strong enough lights, you can bounce them up from far enough behind the camera operator that his movements wont cast any shadow, and the light will be soft and diffused.
 
First you have to decide on the look and style of your project; or at least this scene.

Are you going for a cold, flourescent harsh feel?

Are you wanting a warm daylight glow?

Hard to devide on how to light it without knowing the style you are after.

I see it as a cold / harsh/ contrasting '21 Grams' style of a scene; particulary with the conversation of near death experiences. Imagine the natural daylight pouring into the room; washed out and a cool blue.

Imagine the cieling lights used to more practical effect with the nastly 'floro green'.

What kind of set-decorating you plan to do; hopefully not just some chairs?
 
A lot of how you would light this would depend on what the style and feel for the project. For instance, I would light this one way for a comedy, another way for a thriller, and another way if it were a doc.

Also, are you shooting day or night?

For night, I would light this from above and focus the light on your subjects, letting the rest of the room fall off.

For day I would follow the advice that's been given regarding daylight flouros and breaking up the walls.

Rob
 
Chinese lanterns

Chinese lanterns

Just my two cents; Shoot at night. Use a Chinese lantern in the middle of circle. That should give you a nice soft light that will wrap around faces. For the walls - buy some cheap foam - core cut some patterns (a lot of 5 inch peanut shaped holes works well) and shine a light with a colored gel thru the pattern. Using ceiling clips and some clamps from a hardware store should do the trick.

Again - it's just one opinion.
 
If you can shoot this after dark, that would give you more (total) control over over lighting.
If that's not possible then use that natural light to your advantage. Place those who will appear on camera at 45 degree angle from natural light,---then bounce that light to fill.
Or depending on intensity and angle of natural light,---use it to fill and employe side light.
But I think shooting at night would allow for more dramatic look that would suit the mysterious subject matter.
 
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