SHORT: The Complex
- Thread starter mitchalo
- Start date
roblutz
Member
I'm digging the premise... but I think the mystery element isn't coming across in the bright daytime and well lit flourescent interiors. Not to say that's the look of the whole final movie but as a demo of what the movie may look like I think it should be darker, if not just indoors. Although I think brightly lit, desolate new developments can definitely have a mysterious and bleak quality, it isn't coming across here. I think exterior shots of the complex should make it feel more imposing, it doesn't have enough character. It feels like any new apartment complex.
I think there's a lot of potential in the story. good luck!
I think there's a lot of potential in the story. good luck!
mitchalo is this going to be a feature?
It will be a long short. 35-45 minutes. The original script is written as a feature, however, we were not going to meet a submission deadline that we set a gaol for, so we trimmed it down.
roblutz, thanks for your comments. We believe we have a great script, however, this is our first real project, so we are struggling with the very things you mentioned. We do not have an experienced lighting person, so we are just learning as we go. Our goal is to 1) learn and 2) convey a strong script and secure some funding to bring in some talented crew members and reshoot as a full feature with all of the lighting effects that you mention.
I read all I can about lighting, however, there is no teacher as good as experience and experimentation.
roblutz, thanks for your comments. We believe we have a great script, however, this is our first real project, so we are struggling with the very things you mentioned. We do not have an experienced lighting person, so we are just learning as we go. Our goal is to 1) learn and 2) convey a strong script and secure some funding to bring in some talented crew members and reshoot as a full feature with all of the lighting effects that you mention.
I read all I can about lighting, however, there is no teacher as good as experience and experimentation.
roblutz
Member
Nice, this is a good length to experiment with for sure - I took the same route with my first project and just kind of used it to learn as I went. I took a lot of pointers from this site which talks about some of the most common low budget lighting solutions. Even some basic one point lighting will add a lot of depth and character to shots (as long as it makes sense based on the scene's logical light sources, but even this can be stretched a lot to achieve a style)
But most of all try stuff out. An external monitor is a must. On my set I hooked a cheap portable DVD player up to the cameras video out and it made a world of difference because we could interactively move lights while watching the frame, which especially helped when it was just me and the actor doing the lighting 90% of the time (and 90% involved one or two 30w clamp lights, very quick and easy and attach to everything!)
Having a monitor makes all the difference, as it gives you a better sense of how it will look on screen, and makes lighting a lot more interactive and enjoyable especially with a small crew.
But most of all try stuff out. An external monitor is a must. On my set I hooked a cheap portable DVD player up to the cameras video out and it made a world of difference because we could interactively move lights while watching the frame, which especially helped when it was just me and the actor doing the lighting 90% of the time (and 90% involved one or two 30w clamp lights, very quick and easy and attach to everything!)
Having a monitor makes all the difference, as it gives you a better sense of how it will look on screen, and makes lighting a lot more interactive and enjoyable especially with a small crew.