Lighting TV Studio...

thefilmmaking

thefilmmaking

Member
Hey, I need some help planning the lighting for a studio set as a DP for foreign language TV show.

It is basically a newly built closed studio (very large, hangar style ceilings) with around 10 three walled sets (2 kitchens, 4 living rooms, 4 bedrooms). Now figuring out the lighting has fallen on my shoulders and since there is a budget of about 6 or 7k, I have to find the best and most cost effective (ordering used off eBay or CL) solution for the time being.

What kind of set-up should I go for? We will need enough rigs to light up 2 sets at any given time.

Do we go with Fresnels? Fluorescent? HMI ($$)? And should they all be daylight or tungsten? Any input will be greatly appreciated as I have worked most of my career on location with Kino-Flos and feel a little overwhelmed with the large-scale studio set-up.
 
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I don't have much experience with lighting for TV sets so I won't say too much on the subject, but tungsten should be fine. HMI's and flos would be too expensive. Also, keep in mind that there are many fresnels made specifically for theatre / TV that are much less expensive than those you might be used to that are found on film sets. The main difference is usually the build quality, since they're not going to be tossed around nearly as much if they spend most of their life up on a grid.
 
I was thinking the tungsten route, but then I worry about the limitations of getting the 5600k with a CTB vs getting a daylight balanced Kino set-up and CTO for 3200.
 
Indeed I guess this is dark so stick with tungsten

I guess It will draw some power though (three phase?) and put out some heat - which might provide free heating or be a nightmare and require aircon which will have to be wired to be off when rolling

Now if it is permanent site then Flo will pay for itself in power and aircon savings and man hours of maintainance - do some calcs on 'cost of life'

The budget sounds to be a joke BTW

S
 
There won't be windows since it will be a sealed set Hangar style.

And the budget feels like a joke to me as well, but they're cutting costs on the wrong end, which I've told the multiple times, but I have to make the best of it until they give me something more to work with.

And would the Flos still be ideal (regardless of cost) considering the size and height of the studio?
 
You are not going to light one corner with flos on that budget IMO

I think theatre pars is the route for building the base exposure

Lumens per purchase dollar uncorrected tungsten is a clear winner

S
 
If there are no windows, I'm not sure why you would ever need to shoot daylight balanced. It might look slightly better but it's not worth the stop loss if you don't have daylight coming in through windows.

One other thing, do you plan on setting up lights on a grid and leaving them alone for the most part? Or were you planning on getting a smaller lighting package to use in all of the different sets? Regardless, I wouldn't get anything fluorescent yet. You can get several tungsten fresnels for the cost of one fluorescent unit.
 
Moseph I was thinking a few for the grid they built and a couple on the floor.

Sam, if budgeting wasn't an issue, what kit would you suggest? 4 bank kinos or higher?
I was thinking maybe I can ask for more considering the cost saving on electricity.
 
The objective at our studio is lots of light and limit shadows. The shows I do have minimal interest in modeling the light.

Our setup is very broad tungsten fixtures with PARs to add the odd highlight. Sometimes gels on the PARs for color, not color balance.

If it was a newsroom or similar, then the FLOs would be the way to go. Keep it cool, keep it diffused.

But you have bedrooms, and living rooms. So it sounds like you will want something a little more interesting and add some texture to the light.
You likely will have tungsten practicals on those sets that you want to match. So you may want to stick with tungsten in those rooms. How you want to light those rooms will tell you what to buy.

For the kitchen, FLOs are a likely choice. Diffused light and no practicals to deal with.
 
Thank you Paul. It will be strictly for TV show sets, for a sitcom or soap opera, so you suggest the tungsten as the best options? And which ones would you suggest as a full kit per set (arris?), I'll be purchasing double of everyhing to light up 2 sets at any given time, unless its a better idea to save the money and light one set properly.
 
If you're buying used, what you get completely depends on what you can actually find. I would find out if any rental houses in your area are selling off old inventory before relying solely on eBay and CL (I see you're from LA so there probably are some). If you want to be able to run two shoots at once, I would try to get at least 6-8 of each of the common wattages, which are 200/300, 650, 1k, and 2k. Maybe you don't necessarily need that many 2k's though. Since you're in a studio, go for the non-compact fixtures. They're cheaper and perform better. Also, since you're in a studio, get yourself some rolling stands for when something can't go on a grid. If money eventually winds up permitting, the fluorescent fixture I always recommend is the DeSisti De Lux. They can be had for way cheaper than Kino Flos, and they're actually designed for studio applications as opposed to the more cinema oriented 4 bank or Diva.
 
I'm really surprised the studio does not have a lighting inventory.

If you are shooting a series you are going to want your lighting to be consistent from episode to episode, so if they have a fully functioning grid with drops and a lighting control board then using it makes sense. As far as lights to choose, I think it really depends on the set design and the look you are going for.
 
thefilmmaking said:
.....And which ones would you suggest as a full kit per set (arris?), I'll be purchasing double of everyhing to light up 2 sets at any given time, unless its a better idea to save the money and light one set properly.
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I recommend tungsten for 2 reasons:

Match practicals in the living room and bedrooms
These rooms probably want a bit of light and shadow, which are better controlled with the variety of lights available in tungsten

If you don't have these two objectives, but only need a broad, diffused light, then flos may be a better choice.

If you choose tungsten then I recommend for each set:

3 of this type of broad tungsten fixture per set - not necessarily this brand. This is just an example of type. These give you a lot of coverage you won't get with a fresnel. You have a tight budget. These will go a long way in filling the set with light. http://www.rathboneenergy.com/broad...ct_soft_lights/double_reflect_soft_lights.htm

3-5 - 1k fresnel for rim lights or back lights to add some highlights

Barn doors, diffusion paper or other diffuser, cine foil

That will get you started and consume your budget. After that, you might find it useful to have few smaller fresnels to add accents or let the practicals do that.
 
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