Nightime in car shot

S

Slappy

New member
Does anyone have any tips for lighting 2 actors in the front driver and passenger seats of a car, at night? The shot is driving around a city at night. We will be shooting inside the car and dont have any equipment for an outside shot.
Has anyone used sandbags on the hood though?
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i realize now that i wrote this before searching it. There are past posts about the lighting but if anyone has any new tricks...
 
Personally, with the DVX, I'm not a fan of shooting at night anymore. My advice would be to shoot at twilight, and add some additional lighting to the talent's faces ... then do a day-for-night CC in post.

I just think the DVX is too noisy in the blacks, and prefer to shoot more flat (everything fairly well lit) and CC in post. Still get a fairly effective night look, though there are pros & cons to everything.

Then again, I've just not successfully lit things at night without a lot of noise in the DVX (in the blacks), so maybe there are others who have a ton of success with getting really clean shots & can tell you otherwise.
 
If you give those sensors something to look at then your picture will rock Envision. It comes down to lighting.
 
I've obviously got a long way to go then. What about when you DO have the subject well lit, but you've got the black background (or in this INT. CAR - NIGHT scene, black windows/bg) ... isn't it noisey there? That's why I was thinking (waltind & I just discussed this) in the future it'd be better & cleaner to shoot flat & darken in post.
 
Int Car Lighting

Int Car Lighting

A couple of tricks:

1. If the dashboard panel is a motivating light source, select a dash light color (usually green or deep orange) and gel a small light, and mount it on the steering column. A cheap way to go is a 50 watt spot (about 2 bucks at a hardware or light store)mounted in a hardware type clamp light w/ reflector and powered from a DC converter that plugs in the dash ( auto parts stores carry these for $20-40). You can also use a cheap flourescent, but tungsten is easier to control color wise.

2. If the dome light is a motivating light source, try taping Christmas Tree Lights in a 1-2 foot loop and running it off a DC converter. A hand dimmer makes all these methods better. The Christmas lights give off a bit or an yellow glow that looks similar to a dome light, and it's softer than using the dome.

3. Cheap Process shot: Black out areas behind windows, have someone push up and down on the bumper, mount a tungsten on a baby stand and swing it across the windshield from an angle occasionally, or wave a flag in front of it.
If you don't get the duvatyn far enough from the windows you'll see it.
Also, for moonlight motivation use a tungsten undiffused with full blue (C.T.B) gel at a fairly high angle, but not so high as to miss the faces. Ths is where the clamplights can come in handy (also with full blue) to add a bit of fill if needed.
Try shooting a tungsten (blued) through the rear window if you can, this can be a nice effect.
 
Try getting a DC converter (about 20-40 bucks at an auto parts store) and plugging it into the lighter. Then get a couple of clamp lights ( about 5 bucks at a hardware store) with reflectors (about 6" reflectors) and a couple of 50 watt spots and 75 watt spots. These can then be run off the DC converter and placed strategically. In placing them zip ties are handy, the clamps they come with are wimpy. Be sure to put full CTB (blue) gel on them, unless they are mimicking dash lights, then green is more realistic. A hand dimmer or two will make it a snap.
 
A DC converter and Christmas tree lights work great. I keep a silver/white piece of show card around as a reflector. Ball the CT lights up and put them in the middle of the 6"x10" piece of show card. Use gaff tape to mold it to your liking and you have a cheap, easy, and very effective set up.
 
edwave said:
Sorry..
what do you mean with christmas tree lights?
have some pics of them?
thanks

ed
Click to expand...
I don't have a pic, but they are just your standard "hang on the tree" christmas tree lights.

Buy single colors
 
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