INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT

[petersrin]

...

Most of my film is at night time, interior. Also, the building has a bunch of windows. How do you get a convincing nighttime look during the day with the windows there? It's baffling me.

 

[dark_reaper]

with something like this the best bet is to shoot at night, otherwise pull a Sam Raimi, just use black cloth over the windows. At night if you have a 1k or above you can use a CTO gel to get have the full moon effect. I have tried it once for a bedroom scene and it worked out nice.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

Either you shoot at night, or at least the wide shots and any other shots looking towards the windows, if you want to see a view of city lights, let's say, or some lit-up trees & bushes out there... or you shoot during the day and black-out the windows from the outside, then close the curtains / lower the blinds, so you aren't staring into blackness (which will also become a mirror).

 

[petersrin]

A bit stifling to the style, but I expected as much, thanks guys.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

You can also build a black tent outside the windows if you want to be able to put some moonlight effect through them and on the bushes under the window, etc. A bit more complex to set-up.

 

[dark_reaper]

You can also build a black tent outside the windows if you want to be able to put some moonlight effect through them and on the bushes under the window, etc. A bit more complex to set-up.

I agree, the shot I have done was at an 2nd floor apartment, luckly there was a balcony for me to put the light up.