Low Budget Lightning

[FilmUnited]

I want to shoot an indoor nighttime scene where it is raining outside, and I do not have any budget for rain machines. I would like to show my character sitting in front of a window and have a few flashes of lightning illuminate the face. Does anyone have suggestions for a good way to do this on a low budget? I plan to expose a stop or more under on the face and have the lighting flashes go around 3 stops over, but I am concerned about making the "flicker" look realistic.

Corey

 

[David Mullen ASC]

The cheap way I use of creating lightning is to get some metal venetian blinds for an HMI. However, they make some noise as you slap the blinds open and close quickly (and randomly).

 

[FilmUnited]

Thanks for the replies.

I will look into both of the techniques suggested.

As for the brightness of the lightening, does 3 stops over sound acceptable?

Also, is the color temperature of the source of any importance? I was considering throwing an 1/8 or 1/4 CTB on the lightening light but I don't know what the common practice is with the pros.

Thanks again,

Corey Eisenstein

 

[FilmUnited]

That is a good point about the background.

You're right, I forgot to specify film or DV. The answer is film, 16mm. Most likely Vision2 200T or 500T.

Is there a movie that you know offhand that implements good lightening effects that I could watch for refrence?

Thanks,

Corey Eisenstein