Music Video lighting...how was this done?

jaypass

jaypass

Well-known member
Love the look of the performance shots in this video. I was wondering how to achieve some of the lighting effects they're using...Any suggestions on how to get these looks? WARNING - They drop an F-bomb later in the video, please mute if that's a problem where you're watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mTRvJ9fugM

:25 - Orange light behind two guys...

:47, 1:02 - Same thing, except with a blue light behind the singer. What kind of light source provides this effect? Looks like a fog machine involved as well? The effect appears throughout the video.

I'm guessing these are practical FX, and not something done in post...let me know if I'm mistaken though. These probably aren't video lights, right? Stage lights for concerts?

The only other thing I was curious about was the shot of the singer with each side illuminated and the front dark...seen at :15 and :30, and throughout the video. This is just a key light of some sort on each side of her, elevated several feet about her head?

Thanks!
 
There does appear to be a fog machine, as the low contrast is also mushy in front of the talent. They have a light source on the ground backlighting the fog. Likely there's an orange gel on it and a moving object such as a fan (with random stuff taped to the blades) blocking off parts of the light as it moves. Or else they may be using a DJ disco ball set on strobe/spin. http://www.door2doorshop.com/upload/pro/2010071411856298.jpg

Another way I would get a similar effect would be to put a semi transparent fabric or frosted glass and place it behind the talent and then project a light onto that from behind the fabric/glass. Sort like watching a movie at a movie theatre but from the other side of the screen. This would achieve a similar effect but without the low contrast throughout. I like it the way they did it, though.

The blue light at 1:17 is different in that it's a true backlight with the light source directly behind the girl and not just placed on the floor behind the girl. She's standing directly in front of a light stand holding the light. It's very clear that they used a fog machine here and so most likely used a fog machine in the orange lit shots.

As for the other lighting, you guessed right, it's basically just using nothing but rimlighting as key. http://www.kenpugh.ca/images/Rim Light 1.jpg
 
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Cool man, thanks for the info! I'm considering these looks for a series of music video projects I have coming up. I agree - I like the way they did it with the subtle movement of the light. I might experiment with some gels on my Lowell 150w spotlights, and see how that looks...but I think I'll need to rent some much higher wattage to get that amount of light?

I'm really trying to start thinking outside the box when it comes to lighting - I've always been a straightforward, stick-to-the-basics kind of guy - but I'm working with musicians more and more, and creative lighting can transform a simple music video into something way more visually compelling. Especially when you're on a budget.

Thanks!
 
No problem, bud!

For lighting it's really more of a matter of contrast than anything else. 150w is pretty low if you're talking about incandescents, but in pitch dark night, it may be enough. Would love to see.

You can buy fog in a can from filmtools online if you don't have a fog machine or just want a little bit of fog to experiment with. And you'll definitely need motion in front of the lights to get that motion effect. Doesn't have to be a fan. Can be a PA sitting down and doing karate chops or finger tutting or whatever.

Let us know!
 
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