Reference video - making a guy look uber-cool

iHartVideo

iHartVideo

Well-known member
I have a commercial project for which I am going to start filming the intro on Saturday.

I have some ideas that I have storyboarded but am always looking for more. Does anyone have any thoughts on refrence footage (youtube on vimeo) on how to make a guy look super cool. I intend to have him simply standing there, lighting a cigerette and drinking a beer and I'm looking for cinematograohy tips on emphasizing his coolness.
 
Heavy back/rim lighting, low camera angle looking up at him. BG has shafts of light through a hazer, looks dramatic and if the actor can carry it off, heavy duty key to fill ratio as far as high contrast, I think a heavy cut and shadow on his face could look really hip. Possibly even bare fresnel as key ala film noir. Forget really soft and flat, what most people these days use to light people, it is boring. Cool guy needs drama in the lighting because he IS drama, right?

Dan
 
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Thanks puredrifting. Actually that lighting is what I had planned. A haze would definintely be cool but I couldn't use it where I'm filming.
 
puredrifting said:
Heavy back/rim lighting, low camera angle looking up at him. BG has shafts of light through a hazer, looks dramatic and if the actor can carry it off, heavy duty key to fill ratio as far as high contrast, I think a heacy cut and shadow on his face could look really hip. Possibly even bare fresnel as key ala film noir. Forget really soft and flat, what most people these days use to light people, it is boring. Cool guy needs drama in the lighting because he IS drama, right?

Dan
Click to expand...

I think that is the default bad ass lighting design
 
Yep, Terminator and most action heroes but you can't deny that it works. I think the secret to being a great filmmaker is the ability to take known myths, styles and conventions and make them your own. That's how all pop art functions, right?

Very few can totally redefine a medium but the best can capitalize on the foundation built before us and add a variation or new layer to it that strengthens and expands what came before while breathing some new life into it.

Dan
 
Stagecoach was genius. I produced the latest DVD release of it for Warner Bros. along with all of the bonus material. The dolly shot to introduce John Wayne's character is one of the best shots I have ever seen.

Dan
 
I'd experiment with a high key. Godfather style. Fill with a bounce board bouncing the light as an horror fill. Maybe with an low back light also. 2 light set up.

Or

I'd say, split lighting. Break up the key light with a cookie or something. On the dark side of the face, hit him with an hard Back light. So the dark side of his head dosn't fall off into the background.

Shoot wide, epic and slow track out. Slow in post or camera.
 
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