Police criminal lineup

[DM_rider]

I'm needing to light a police lineup/mugshot scene. The shots will be straight on. Wide shots of the lineup, and close ups for the mugs. I'm not a lighting guy, and I need it to look correct. Any tips on getting this to look right?

 

[bcheong]

Though I've never analyzed closely a police lineup those rooms tend to be lit with overhead fluorescents. Kino Flo's would be great or find a location that has lights already in place.

 

[djsmackmackey]

If my memory of the scene in Usual Suspects serves me right, I believe they had light coming from overhead, as if from flourecents, but also had light being kicked onto their faces from below in front of them. I seem to remember it being stronger than just your typical amount of bounced light. But it all depends on the mood you're trying to get, too.

 

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

Don't sweat it more than anything else. Police lineups are done in different kinds of rooms depending on the size and resources and layout of the facility.

In NYPD Blue, to use a TV example, an interogation room doubles as a line up room and they just shove the table and chairs to the side.

So don't sweat it more than lighting any other room. As others have suggested just consider where the light would be actually coming from and how much you want / can tweak that within the style and vocabulary of your world, meaning, who far you can or want to go to play with mood.