Lighting for fx

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danielti

New member
Hey, thought it might be helpful to make a Q&A thread where people can ask questions and help each other out about very unique lighting needs. I have two effects that I want to obtain through lighting that are baffling me right now. The help is appreciated, and of course if you have your own questions about lighting for fx, feel free to post it up. Hope this is successful!

Anyway, my conundrums are:

1. I want to simulate the light given off by gun-fire against an open area (a rainforest location) and I need it to be strong enough so that the shadows of my actors will be cast on a large tree at the location. Anyone know a way I can achieve this? I am considering a strobe light.

2. I want the prescription glasses my actor wears to be lit up (almost glowing like Toby McGuire's in Sin City). Does anyone know a way I can fill up the entire glass with reflective light and not just a single spot?

Thanks!
 
Stobes are far too short - at best they'll be on just a single frame. A large conventional lamp might be best - you can experiment with pulsing it on with a button. Two, next to each other coming on alternatively might suggest the gunfire is coming from different directions, but distant gunfire is not actually very bright at all - explosions yes, but muzzle flash is quite dim at a distance. Is it meant to be night time or day time - night, I'm guessing. If so, the twin lights would perhaps work being pulsed, but it could be simpler to have them on and use big boards to 'un-flap' them like signal lights on ships in the movies...
 
hi danielti

you could try a 800w redhead or 2k blondie thru a flicka box

(that wattage is based on the aussie 240 volt supply)

magic gadgets makes them ..you can probably hire one from a local gaffa or lighting hire facility.

you can set the flicka speed and brightnes.... it would just take a bit of experimenting to get the right levels.

i would use the biggest light possible and dial it down to suit on the flika box.

cheers
ian
 
Both of those sound really great. I think I'll try the shoe-string budget one first just because I have that sort of stuff lying around. If not I'll go with the pro solution. Thanks a ton! Any thoughts on the second one?
 
If you want the reflection in the glasses bigger you need to use a much bigger source. it could just be a 6x6 bounce card, etc...
 
Bounce for the reflection is a good idea. As to your other question the only way I have ever seen it done successfully (in camera) was with lightning strike units. Lightning Strikes are far from cheap even if rented. They are also going to require a very powerful generator.
 
hmm, anyone have any reference videos I can check out or examples from films? Thanks for the responses!
 
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