Storyboard lighting

[Azmyth]

While drawing my storyboards, and seeing others I've seen that alot of them have lighting diagrams out to the side for each shot to show where the lights would be set up. I would like to do this, but how does one determine where the lights would work best without actually being on set and testing them? I don't know enough about lighting for film yet to just draw out where they would be without seeing the effect it would have first.

 

[PerroneFord]

I would like to do this, but how does one determine where the lights would work best without actually being on set and testing them? I don't know enough about lighting for film yet to just draw out where they would be without seeing the effect it would have first.

Why not let your DoP or gaffer do it then?

 

[heavyG]

In all my years of working in Tv and film production I've never seen lighting diagrams on the storyboards...

 

[Huy Vu]

...how does one determine where the lights would work best without actually being on set and testing them?

You can't. With experience you can get a rough idea of what the lighting setup can be like from just looking at the location, but plans on paper is never as good as doing pre-lighting sessions and making sure that it works. Even in professional sets they use stand-ins when doing lighting setup, so it's always to your benefit to do as much testing as possible.