Lighting For MiniDV

[srproductions]

Hi!

I am going to be doing a short next spring (I'm in preproduction), but the one thing I am not experienced in is lighting. Are there any good DVDs or Books on lighting for MiniDV? (I am using a DVX100A) Also, should I buy a lower end Lowel kit to learn with, or wait until the shoot to rent a kit of Arri lights? Thx.

 

[Kim Welch]

many don't think there is a difference

many don't think there is a difference

you might try the store. I think the reflections book is excellent. you want to light according the what you are trying to accomplish. do some testing and look at the results. understanding lighting is not really a DV verses Film thing even though there are some differences in regards to sensitivity and correction for over lighting and underlighting...

try looking at the books here and get the reflections book.

www.studentfilmmakersforums.com/store

 

[srproductions]

Well, that doesn't answer my question. I have two options. They are:

1. But a cheaper light kit to practice with (but will have to use it for my short)

2. Read books and rent a pro lighting kit for the shoot

Which?

 

[David Mullen ASC]

You can't read books and buy a cheaper light kit to practice with???

I learned to light by studying lighting in movies, paintings, photography, and real life, by reading about lighting and cinematography, and then by practicing lighting. Theory and practice, over and over again. You need both.

You can't just read a book and then rent some expensive lights and suddenly know how to light.

I'd get one movie light to start with, augment it with some homemade lights (Chinese Lanterns, worklights, flourescents, etc.) and start trying to recreate the lighting effects that you like in movies, paintings, real life, etc.

 

[srproductions]

Well, you can get some pretty cheap kits on eBay. I'll post some links later to see what you think. But then I would have to use a cheap kit on my films rather than renting pro lights. Is that OK? Will the work as good? I mean, what's so good about Arri?

 

[element80]

Going for the cheaper ones is probably your best bet. Then you can practice and have a better idea of what you're doing when it comes time to shoot. If your lights don't have good barndoors on them, I'd suggest getting a roll of black wrap (even if they do, it's still a good thing to have). No barndoors creates a problem when it comes to putting gels on lights, so you might have to be creative with that. Don't get them too close, or they might melt. Also, make sure you get a good white balance. If the lights aren't professional grade, they may have consumer-quality lamps in them, which can be a bit warmer (assuming they're tungsten). Also, it helps to have some pieces of white foamboard to bouce light off of and act as a good soft source. If I think of any other advice, I'll post another response.

-Chris

 

[srproductions]

Any particular things to look for in a kit? Brand?

 

[Lazlo]

I recommend purchasing a 500w work light with a stand. Best investment I ever made. $20, and you can really do so much with it. Also, I'd recommend a reflector kit of some kind, because its so much cheaper to reflect/control light that's already there than buy a light specifically for the task (and not bad at all). You can do SO much with a simple reflector kit (i.e. gold, silver, diffusion, white).

As for what to look for... In terms of very high quality, some are very expensive. I'm talking about: dedolight, arri, mole-richardson.

Less expensive but still (in my opinion) very good: (some) lowel lights, smtih-victor, worklights.

I have become a huge advocate of renting, but that was after I experimented with work lights that I owned and other various practicals. I think that experience is so incredibly key. Learning to light by a book is like trying to learn an instrument by reading all about it. The technical knowledge is only the beginning. Not saying you shouldn't read! But I think reading should supplement experience rather than the other way around.

Just realize all the components you will probobly want/need in a given kit, or even if you buy one light.

-bulb (don't touch the bulbs or else they're liable to explode)
-stand (these are suprisingly expensive things.)
-barndoors (in my opinion if you want to go above the worklight, an absolute necessity. you can always take the bardoors off, but you can't put them on if you don't have them. a great way to control light)
-cables (some lights require you to be separate cables
-gel frames/gels (if you so desire)
-CASE! (to protect your investment, I cite this as a necessity, although some may disagree. just make sure it doesn't cost as much as the light)

just some thoughts.

 

[Kim Welch]

want to elaborate

want to elaborate

Lazlo - do you want to elaborate on this post some from a students perspective for the "possiblity " it might make it in the magazines may issue.

 

[Lazlo]

I'm not sure I have much more to add. Just addressing how a student filmmaker can economically light? Or the tools? Or a philosophy? I think it would need to be more focused.