Lighting up an actor when the sun is behind them?

[Filmkid2003]

Hey everyone. I am shooting a low budget film and most of the time when I am filming outside on a sunny day, I set up the scene so the actor is facing towards the sun. But, some scenes require the actor to have his/her back to the sun and their face is dark because of the brightness of the sun. How do I light up the actor with a reflector without it looking too "fake" or too obvious that they are being lit up by a reflector? Thanks.

 

[Barry_Green]

Reflectors are what is used. Just use a good solid one. The worst "fakery" is when you're using one of those collapsible/expandable 5-in-1 things, and a little bit of wind catches it and it goes flopping around like a sail, and the light sprays all over your actor. That's awful. But if you've got a good firm reflector (even if it's a sheet of styrofoam) mounted on a stand so it doesn't move, then -- heck, that's how Hollywood does it.

 

[slondon]

Hey everyone. I am shooting a low budget film and most of the time when I am filming outside on a sunny day, I set up the scene so the actor is facing towards the sun. But, some scenes require the actor to have his/her back to the sun and their face is dark because of the brightness of the sun. How do I light up the actor with a reflector without it looking too "fake" or too obvious that they are being lit up by a reflector? Thanks.

The number one mistake you can make when using a reflector like this is too much light. Only use the reflector for close-ups and most medium shots. Use beadboard - ordinary styrofoam insulation sheets. Use a big reflector 4X4 or 4X8. If you need more light -- don't overdo it -- get up close, just barely out of frame if necessary. If you absolutely have to have more light get some silver lame from a grip house and tape it onto one side of your 4X4.

The number two mistake is keeping the reflector low because it is convenient for the grip to rest it in on the ground or hold it up and look over its top. Put the reflector up high on a stand so that its shadows reveal the light source is up higher where the sun is or where the sun would bounce off a building, etc.

The number three mistake is if the reflector can be seen to move.

Look hard at the faces in camera or on a big monitor. Don't overdo the light and keep the reflector up high and nobody will know you've added bounce to get rid of the silhouette you'd otherwise get.

BTW, strongly consider not facing the actor toward the sun. It creates harsh shadows and makes them squint. It usually looks flat. Try placing the actors so the sun is somewhere behind them, from the side, not directly behind them, generally. Then push in just enough fill to make the faces read naturally. The sun behind the subject makes an attractive rim light.

I don't suppose you can rent a real one or make an overhead out of shower curtain and PVC that you can fly above your actors if they have to face the sun?