Need lighting advise for Castle Wedding scene

[klh121560]

Hello all Cinematographers -

I could use your help and advise. I am directing a commercial next month which is to mimic a gothic/renaissance styled interior castle wedding. I am not sure how to light this. I have been looking for pictures on the internet to get ideas, but have not had any real luck. I would like it to look like a day wedding inside a castle hall, and it will be on a somewhat cloudy day. So the only light I would think in trying to be realistic to the times, would be light from any windows, and torches or candles (there is no fireplace). I will be filming it inside a gothic styled church (pictures below of the area I am working with). We have a fog machine if we want a more musty interior, as well as torch lights and candles. But what I am really hoping to get from all of you is lighting advise (not technical advise) on what you think would make a good lighted set, and maybe even references to where I can see specific examples. I have not worked on a project as involved as this, and I know there are many terrific cinematographers out there who can give me advise on this forum. I would gratefully appreciate any helpful advise you can offer.

Thank You Again !!!

Interior Pics

 

[paulears]

If you want it to look realistic Gothic period then a modern church isn't going to fool anyone. Everything is wrong, and none of the features shout much older than the 60s idea of traditional. A bit of wood doesn't make for Gothic/Renaissance or even later!

The lack of arches, statues, and the beauty of architecture from the 1100s onwards means that if you really want it to look old, then the expense is going to be considerable. Frankly, a few flambeaux torches, flags and props might pretty it up - but for a commercial, the only way to do this involves serious money. You could, if you can get access to install proper lighting, consider NOT lighting anywhere other than the acting area, leaving the walls unlit. You'd have to shoot at night as the windows are unlikely to have blackouts. The plain walls could have gothic features projected onto them - so with careful lighting you could have the suggestion of gothic features.

You don't say where you are - but Stateside no real building exist. In Europe, they're everywhere.

 

[David Jimerson]

You don't say where you are - but Stateside no real building exist. In Europe, they're everywhere.

Well, obviously, nothing from the actual time, but there are options.

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Hello all Cinematographers -

We have a fog machine if we want a more musty interior, as well as torch lights and candles. But what I am really hoping to get from all of you is lighting advise (not technical advise) on what you think would make a good lighted set, and maybe even references to where I can see specific examples. I have not worked on a project as involved as this, and I know there are many terrific cinematographers out there who can give me advise on this forum. I would gratefully appreciate any helpful advise you can offer.

Have you been to any 'real(tm)' churches/chapels of the late medieval period... the interior lighting comes mostly from windows, often long narrow windows, or alternatively high up windows.

In your example shots, much of the lighting comes from artificial in the 'altar' area, at 'ordinary floor' level. For the shots of the 'nave' area, Here's an example on the wiki article on that word describing church layouts.

Notice the windows are the source for all the light.

I don't know how much equipment or the like you have available, but in order to give the altar area a more 'gothic' look, you'd have to mount some big lights high up, angled down to simulate the effect of what would have been small windows for a 'real(tm)' medieval church.