Lighting Liquor Store for short film shot on red

G

GrahamRobbins

Active member
Hey guys,

I am cinematographer on a short film. We are shooting an all niter at a liquor store this Sunday. The place is full of cheap fluorescence's which is great for the shady liquor store look we are going for. However it kind of sucks for me. The initial Plan had been to jack a few of the ceiling bulbs, and drop them into some 4 bank Kino's to match the color temp. However the lighting package im working with is more limmited, they have Kino's but Only Diva's so I cant fit the ceiling bulbs in them. Meaning my color temps with be off.

Our Camera Kit is great, we are shooting Red, with a very good camera crew, but my lighting package is lacking.

I am working with 2 Kino Divas, with dimmers, and a bulb kit but I dont know if any would even come close to the ceilings color temp.

I also have 2 650w tungsten moles, and a 500w soft light also mole,
(These are for a couple quick night exteriors, of the store.)

Plenty of flags, Cstands, and Grip gear.

I was thinking I could black wrap out the ceiling lights, but I doubt I have enough light in just my Diva's to light the place.

What do you think I should do to keep my lighting, and color consistent, with the equipment that I have? Please keep in mind we are under a pretty fast paces shooting schedual. Also I am shooting for a sketchy bad area liquor store look with my lighting.
 
black wrap out the ceiling lights, get a couple big china lanterns and high CRI bulbs (check coollights.biz for some bulbs, they have both daylight and tungsten with CRI of over 87) and light up the place :) nice and inexpensive...and very effective. Post can deal with the "shady" scene...or u can underexpose a bit.
 
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If it was me, I would scrap the RED camera rental and go with something cheaper. Using the saved money for a better lighting package. It doesn't matter what camera you are shooting with it doesn't matter if the light is crap. A huge portion of cinematography is working with light and being limited on equipment really hinders your ability to create a scene, to paint your story.

But like lairhair said, just gel your divas.
 
Hahah, KKeller, the Camera package is free my friend, in fact every piece of gear is free for this film. Its good to have friends with lots of gear. Jambredz I like the idea ill pocket that and test it out.
 
If you have time pick up the movie "November" starring Courtney Cox.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368089/

Dp was Nancy Schreiber and she had talked extensivly about the film. Main scene of the film was shot in a liquor store and they had done some simple lighting and color tricks.

Ps: it was shot with a dvx100 with $1.5M budget
 

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One trick we did was when filming at a department store (which we could not defeat the overheads, nor could we light the entire store) we decided to gel our lights with green to match the house lights. Maybe that might be an option for you. That way you can use the divas as portable light to light your talent.

http://www.leefilters.com/lighting/products/finder/ref:C46DD344311800/

Ps: I see lairhair already suggested this, that might be the smartest approach.
 
I think mixing color temps can work sometimes under the right circumstances.

Especially a Liquor Store when thinking of the fluorescent, the outside street lights, neon beer signs, etc.

You can still use your lights, but on the master and wides just stick to the natural overheads.

On MED and C.U.'s use your kit out of frame.
 
Hmmm, I like the idea of mixed color temps like in November Ill experiment with that, the director is a friend and very open to experimentation. I just picked up all the gear today, I am so in love with the Red Package we have.

Anyway guys, Ill keep the thread up because Monday Ill post pictures of our setups, and production stills.

Thanks,

Graham R
 
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