need help with a dull black Background...

julian

julian

Well-known member
Need help, or suggestions on how to light, or give texture to a dull black curtain background. This is a two people intervew, and the background is just a hanging black curtain. Any input on this would be great. Thanks.
 
That's tough...whenever I have that issue I handle it one of two ways: 1) replace the curtain with a neutral (grey, beige) backdrop that I can splash some colored light on, or 2) let the curtain completley fall off and make the characters/interviewees/whatever be in "black limbo." Decide which one works best for your project, but brining out any texture in real black fabric is going to be very difficult, mostly the only way to do it is reduce your contrast or just shoot so much light on the thing that some parts blow out which, in my opinion, looks crappy. Hope it works out for you one way or another.
Peace,

-Harry

EDIT: Here's an example of black limbo I shot about a year ago. Had to blur out the face cause I don't have permission to show this online, but you'll certainly still get the idea. This was actually lit really simply with three 200w Parcans on a simple dimmer system. Prolly lowered the Master Ped on the DVX, but I can't really remember. http://harrylipnick.com/images/blackcurtain.gif
 
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You could change the background to a different color, by putting something else in front of it. You could drape a long piece of fabric accross it for some color, something like a bolt of fabric that is 1-4 feet wide.
You live in Nassau , Bahamas for christsakes...How 'bout the ocean as a backdrop !!!??? lol.
If you MUST use this dark background, make sure your talent does not wear a dark colored outfit. Use seperation lights to keep their hair from disappearing into the black background. Try not to throw any light on the fabric, and let it stay dark.


I took a phone call while typing this and dudeguy37's post showed up before mine did.. I appolige if some of my advice is redundant to his.
 
or you could put a little smoke in the room and shoot a par 6-8 ft behind person - either hit their shoulders or hit their lower backs .. could put some color gel on that shaft of light ... make sure you expose so curtain is BLACK
 
Hey thanks alot guys,................i think i will try to get the producers to change this black curtain. Another thing is that the space between the the interviewer and the person being interveiwed, is only 2 feet from the black curtain. Plus they are to be seated on a 1 foot high platfrom. I also feel that any light that i put on them will spill on the background. The room is also very small, do you think that i need to move them away from the background ?. Any ideas on this would be great thanks again guys..................J
 
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Thanks alot, filmat11...............and if there's anything else you guys feel i need to know or do in this case please let me know, thanks again J.
 
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