not another day to night post!!!

[Ogrus]

I have to film a short commercial in a town at night. There is no way i will be able to light up the zone. Is the "blue filter" day to night option really that bad?
What options do i have?
thanxs

 

[bcheong]

It's not bad per se - it's definitely not real night-time though - kind of it's own look. The key thing is to avoid showing the sky, try to shoot during high noon when the sun is directly overhead so the shadows aren't so noticable (as opposed to dusk or dawn when the shadows that are cast are long) or use silks. You can either underexpose the image a few stops in camera or pull it down in post. I've also heard of people using a lavender/purple coloured filter for a slightly different look.

 

[novelt]

you could shoot during the "magic hour" when there is enough light and no shadows. right after sunset and right before sunrise.

 

[Matt Grunau]

You can also hope for an overcast day which give nice diffuse light and no hard shadows.