Comments

kameronj wrote on 5/17/2003, 9:43 PM
That depends.

Indoors? Outdoors? During the day? Natural surrounding? Sound stage....or living room?

I just picked up a very inexpensive lighting thing to help me build a better lighting system for blue/green screening. This light it pretty much for stationary use and wouldn't do me too goo being portable.

But...I also picked up a very simple aluminum light "dome" (for lack of a better explanation". I is pretty much a light with a clip one end (near the power cord) and the bulp is surrounded with a collar of aluminum. It can use up to a 100 watt buld and the dome get's pretty darn light. It cost me all of $5. So I may go back and pick up some more.

But I'm just going the home made route. I'm sure there are preexisting inexpensive lighting products in the works.

My next project is to build a home made steadcam. I found a few good designes - inexpensive - and easy to make. (One claims to be able to be put together for under $14. Note he didn't say $15...but $14!! So I'm pretty geeked about it. I'll let yall know how it turns out. Heck...I'll start another post to see about getting input.

Hope my babbling helps.

Kameron J.
filmy wrote on 5/17/2003, 10:01 PM
Cheapest way to go - as was said above buy some work lights, get some bulbs. Practicles can come in very handy.

Be creative - I worked on a film once where the DP refused to call it a day and insisted he could shoot a night scene, around a fire, with some mag lights and some trucks. While most of us were ready to gang up and kill the DP after already working a 14 hour day he was busy taping mag lights to a c-stand and 2 of the crew were pulling their trucks up. The trucks added the overall light, the mag lights were focused on the main actors faces. It worked! We were all amazed when the dailys came back. But that was on film, years ago. Now most video cameras all you need is a candle and you can get an image. Doesn't mean it will be a good image, but my point is you can get away with more (less?) on a budget.

Other cheap lighting - watch the papers for ads from your local hardware stores. When they have sales on those dual 500 watt work lights for like 20 bucks with a case. Also check out the rental houses to see if they are selling off any old gear. Mole Richardson sells off used gear as well.

RE: Steadicam - here is link for one. http://videouniversity.com/xlstablz.htm
(Had it bookmarked for 2 years now, just never gotten around to building the thing.)
kameronj wrote on 5/17/2003, 10:11 PM
http://videouniversity.com/xlstablz.htm

Kewlness....thanks!!
FuTz wrote on 5/18/2003, 4:33 AM

Another link for those of you who feel like doin'it-themselves...

www.homebuiltstabilizers.com


... lots of different models and, even, shots made with those!
Nat wrote on 5/18/2003, 8:04 AM
I bought some worklights and can't be more happy, it's a little ugly but at 500w I can't complain...
mikkie wrote on 5/18/2003, 11:24 AM
http://www.johnjackman.com/
24Peter wrote on 5/18/2003, 11:05 PM
I shot an entire movie using halogen work lights from HomeDepot. Here's what you do: Depending on the size of the bevel around the edge of the faceplate that holds the front glass in place, using either small binder clips or paper clips (yes paper clips) (get either at Staples, etc.) (oh - you have to remove the safety grill on the front otherwise you'll get a grid pattern on your setups), make "barn doors" out of "black wrap". Black wrap is heat resistant black "tin foil" sold at most photo supply stores. Then go to StudioDepot.com (or stop by on La Brea if you're in LA) or go to Markertek.com if you prefer and get both diffusion material (they have different densities of heat resistant sheets of the stuff) and color temp blue gels to balance your light coming in thru windows etc. The halogen (quartz) bulbs are way down in the orange color spectrum (probably more like 2800K than 3200K). Both the gels and diffusion are sold in large sheets so cut them to fit the front of your lights and clip them to the side barn doors with paper clips. Be careful that the gels/diffusion does not touch the metal or glass of the lights so make the barn doors wide enough to extend about 2 in or more out from the front of the lights. Then get a bunch of 12-14 guage outdoor extension cords and power strips to power the lights. I also got some nice aluminum pneumatic cushioned 10' ft light stands to mount the lights on (need to drill a hole in the bracket on the bottom) since my lights didn't come with good stands. Finally, you are going to want to think about flags/scrims to control the spill of these lights since they are not focusing and are essentially flood lights. Go to an art supply store and get foam core (black and white and translucent) for this purpose. Oh - you can also get a variety of bulbs usually up to 500W. I have 500W, 300W and 150W. But DON'T TOUCH THE BULBS WHEN YOU REPLACE THEM since the oil from your fingers will cause them to burn out quickly.