lighting in a moving car elevator

M

milverdu

Active member
Hi Guys,

I will be shooting a music video next week inside a car elevator. The elevator will have to rise 3 stories high and back down again, also, in the back of the elevator, when you get to the second and third floor there are two large windows that face the street. is not clear glass but sunlight comes tru.

I have basic 3 light kit and 4 beam lights (club type)

do I need a generator for this shoot?

please help!!!
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

If the car elevator is fully enclosed then you are not going to be able to use a generator unless you can find a way to exhaust the fumes.

A lot of lifts (don't know about car ones) have power available usually on roof area, have a look via the ceiling access point.

If the car lift is not enclosed then you shouldn't have any problem running a heavy duty power lead from a nearby point into the lift. This would be preferable to running a genset. Just make sure that it does not get caught up in the mechanism.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

Thanks for the advice, Ill look for an outlet nearby, otherwise plan B is definitly on.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

Consider this... I just put together a daylight balanced fluorescent fixture with a CRI of 94 at a hardware store for less than $20. Since you'll have to account for some sunlight spill, this wouldn't be a bad way to go. Since it's a fluorescent, you could easily run a couple of these off of a car battery using a power inverter.

Just a thought.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

I'd love more info on your fluro setup (lamps, ballast, cables, hardware etc) thanks Horse...
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

You need not jeopardize your life. It is illegal for you to go anywhere but in the car through the door of the elevator. YOu should not try to hold the elevator door open without asking the building to have someone turn it off with a key so it's out of service and safe. If there is an outlet it is a 15 amp outlet, enough for a light but why even use it. Isn't the elevator lit? Why folks always think they have to reinvent lighting is beyond me. The purpose of lighting is to enhance reality, not reinvent it. Have the guy stand there with the natural elevator lights and use a silver side flex fill below him to fill him in if you need to. As for windows, get some neutral density filter and bring the level of the outdoor light down a few stops. Its light and it exists in the real world. Don't hide it. It's a nice touch. I hope you have the buildings permission. If not and something happens you will be liable. If it involves someone's life you might be liable for manslaughter. If someone gets injured regardless if its your best friend, you will be sued. Don't be dumb. Get permission.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

Thanks Walter for the advice,
Originally it was a car elevator but today everyone in the building use it to get furniture or other large and heavy stuff to their apts. By no means I'm trying to put my crew in danger. in fact the moving part most likely will never take palce but was just trying to get some info if somebody has done it before. In regards to the light available in the elevator, it's flouresent lights and not enough to properly light 5 guys.

I'll be doing the set up tomorrow, then see what happens
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

I think Walter didn't get the CAR elevator part. So it's a freight elevator. This is a tough one, because it sounds like part of the effect you want to have is the elevator moving during the song. This leaves you with battery systems, unless you can blast some light thru the open parts (I assume its open due to the window thing you described) from different floors as the elevator moves. If I were planning this, I'd have some DC 2x2 kino banks as their front light and attach some of my mini par track lights to the ceiling (gaff tape would work if you couldn't screw or clamp the tracks up) and run them off an inverter and a couple of car batteries. I'd also shoot at dusk (reherse all day and be ready for 3 passes of the song at the critical time, the first a wide shot while the light is perfect, and the second 2 closeups where it's less critical) where you have a blue glow from the windows, but it's not overpowering. This way you could still shoot tungsten and get more bang out of the tracklights, and the light mix would look cool.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

[quote author=filmmaker58 link=board=lighting;num=1106581573;start=0#7 date=01/28/05 at 09:35:30]I think Walter didn't get the CAR elevator part.  So it's a freight elevator.  This is a tough one, because it sounds like part of the effect you want to have is the elevator moving during the song.  This leaves you with battery systems, unless you can blast some light thru the open parts (I assume its open due to the window thing you described) from different floors as the elevator moves.  If I were planning this, I'd have some DC 2x2 kino banks as their front light and attach some of my mini par track lights to the ceiling (gaff tape would work if you couldn't screw or clamp the tracks up) and run them off an inverter and a couple of car batteries.  I'd also shoot at dusk (reherse all day and be ready for 3 passes of the song at the critical time, the first a wide shot while the light is perfect, and the second 2 closeups where it's less critical) where you have a blue glow from the windows, but it's not overpowering.  This way you could still shoot tungsten and get more bang out of the tracklights, and the light mix would look cool.[/quote]

I didn't get the car elevator part. Even more dangerous so don't start me on that. BUt how about a cheap idea? BUy 8 foot flouros form the Home Depot with warm white lamps and place two of them together above your head horizontally across the elevator. It will make a nice light. Best of all, it needs little power so you can use the elevator outlet.
 
Re: lighting in a moving car elevator

thanks for the comments guys, but we decided not to have the "freight elevator" moving at all.
We shot the video yesterday all day with the 500w home depot lights.
I'll post some grabs in a couple days
 
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