Short Film Frame Grabs.

Staven

Staven

Well-known member
I shot day one of my new short film "Stolen" on Saturday. Put up a few frame grabs from the show. 4 are on the main page, one on the short film page.


www.stabbfilms.com

Shot 24p normal mode. Detail -4, Whatever the next 2 settings are at -4(chroma and ...), master ped at -5. 32k preset. Gamma on, Matrix off.

Should have actual show up by April 1 if not sooner.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

Looks nice. A little dark I think. But I'd have to see it on a color corrected NTSC monitor be able to say anything. ;D

What did you use to light?
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

Our key light was a 500 watt work lamp that was bounced into the room. 2 of the bulbs that were source light were 40watt and the one back bulb that you can see in the wide shot on the short film page was a 25watt energy saver that emitted 100watt. From the top of the staircase that led down was a little 150watt work light. Also one extra lamp was placed onto the ceiling to add fill from the other side.

Forgot to say that it was 1/48 shutter and in letterbox mode.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

Yeah, some harder light would have let the picture "pop" more...that said...are these stills colour corrected? are you planning to push the brightness levels in post?
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

It kinda goes back to the "Lighting for Night" discussion.

Although this is not really an EXT NIGHT shot, it is a DARK basement with minimum lighting available.  This is exactly how it would appear in real life.  Unfortunatley, our audience doesn't want to see it this way.  

You gotta find a way to create a more, enlightening (for lack of better word!) way to light this type of scene while STILL giving the illusion that the light we are seeing is coming from the few bulbs in the basement.

Take this grab for instance:

2-behind%20counter-up%20to%20pu%201.jpg


2 Bulbs are visible, yet something isnt popping here. We could Spalsh some light onto the left wall (This light source would be off camera obvioulsy).

I like the light on the right side of frame as it is illuminating the beams nicely. BUt...

Off camera, we could have another light creating an edgeline or backlight to the talent in the foreground.

Yet, another off camera lightsource could splash some light on the talent who is seated in the background.

Suddenly, all of these splashes of light create visual interest in the scene. This is where barndoors really come into play.

This is just one set-up. Only 50 more to go!



My 2 Cents.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

For a really good sequence, take a look at the basement rape scene in Pulp Fiction. It seems to be similar to the mood that you had in these stills, and looked equally "dark". Only you could clearly see EVERYTHING that you wanted to...
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

Another great film is SE7EN. This, IMHO is the way to LIGHT FOR NIGHT or DARK.

PANIC ROOM is another good example.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

SEVEN is like the epitome of AWESOME lighting. all the rim/edge light in that movie makes me cry tears of happieness, because its so beautiful. nice suggestion john. =)

Stabb Films, since you are working with shop lights, im assuming you dont have any barn doors to control spill, or direct light into very specific areas of your scene. a simple suggestion would to be to get yourself a roll of Black Wrap. it will do wonders.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

XDeathOrGloryX

Is correct on that! PAINTING WITH LIGHT is the goal, not just turning them on.

And, after all of the ways one can SPLASH and PAINT with light, remember, sometimes it can be just as effective to REMOVE or BLOCK the light with SPLASHES of DARKNESS!
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

I agree its about a 1/2 stop dark on the face. Some pools of light would have been nice in the background too. You have the nice practical light, but the lack of motivated sources really creates a bland image. If you tried to project this at festivals Im almost positve you will end up with a less then satisfactory outcome. Theres always pickup's.
 
Re: Short Film Frame Grabs.

ANY david fincher film is a good tool to study. you guys left out fight club. i couldnt get the link to work to the stabb site...
 
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