Lighting your Film

We cannot see what is not lit!

4 Basic Areas of Light Control

• What are they?– Color (Daylight/Tungsten/other)– Brightness/Darkness (High Key v. Low Key) – Hardness/Softness (Direct v. Diffused)– Position (Placement and movement of light

source)

House Homework

• Let’s compare the different types of lighting in the dream sequences:– “Normal” (non-dream)– “Sitcom”– “Horror Film”– “50s TV”– “Western” – “Musical”

What are you looking for?

• Compare the coloring of the shot—is there a certain overall hue?

• Describe the lighting—is there a lot of light or a little or “regular?” Where is the most light coming from?

• Compare the shadows—Is one more shadowy than the other? Does one have sharper lines and shadows?

• Describe the colors in the shot—are there any that stand/pop out or are they muted and more plain?

House Homework: Compare and contrast the following images in terms of the lighting

“Normal” “Sitcom”

House Homework: Compare and contrast the following images in terms of the lighting

“Normal” “Horror Movie”

House Homework: Compare and contrast the following images in terms of the lighting

“Normal” “50’s Sitcom”

House Homework: Compare and contrast the following images in terms of the lighting

“Normal” “Western”

House Homework: Compare and contrast the following images in terms of the lighting

“Normal” “Musical”

Two Types of Light…

Natural ArtificialBrightStrongFreeNot much control over brightness, shadow, placement etc…

Control over BrightnessFragileExpensiveMore control over brightness, shadow, placement etc…

Why did I color that chart that way?

Daylight Tungsten1. Blue2. Cool3. 5600K4. CTB (Color Temperature Blue)5. Usual conversion Gel called

"80A" -- changes Tungsten to Daylight

6. Most sunlight (except at --guess-- is blue, but sunlight is rather tricky this way)

1. Orange2. Warm3. 3200K4. CTO (Color Temperature

Orange)5. Usual conversion gel called

"85" -- changes Daylight to Tungsten

6. Most artificial lights are Tungsten (can you think of an exception??)

Two basic colors of light: Daylight (reads blue) and Tungsten (reads orange)

So what Happens in “Mixed Light?”

When we LOOK at "mixed light" (Artificial light and natural light combined) our eyes are sensitive and AWESOME so it blends--

However!Cameras are not as high tech and savvy, so it looks weird

For example• Skin tones look yellowy- greenish • Outside looks really blue or white• Inside looks orange

So--what are our options in mixed light situations?

We will get into this in more detail when we do our lighting demo, and come back to it during prepro, but just so you know…

1. CTB gels on Tungsten Lights2. CTO on windows3. Replace Tungsten bulbs with daylight bulbs4. Cut out/Black out the window

Brightness/Darkness (High Key v. Low Key)

High Key Low Key1. Low contrast2. All light even3. Low ratio between

Key and Fill Lights (they are pretty even in strength/brightness)

4. No shadows5. Light looks “flat”

1. High Contrast2. Key much brighter than

fill3. High ratio between Key

and Fill Lights (Key light much stronger/brighter than Fill light)

4. Shadows5. Light creates 3

dimentionality

Three point lighting set up

Whaddya Think? High or Low Key?

Hardness/Softness (Direct (Hard) v. Diffused (Soft))

Direct (Hard) Light Diffused (Soft) Light

1. Sharp light -- Distinct lines2. Not very popular -- even in

light bulbs for everyday use3. Used in Film noir/Horror

movies4. Created distinct lines/shadows5. Most film lights start with hard

light and need to be altered6. Used to show time (ex)

1. Long shadows 2. Winter3. Early Morning/Night

1. Light spread out-no harsh lines2. Used regularly--Women and

children especially3. Used in most films—comedy,

musicals, romantic, sitcoms4. Soften lines/Shadow + light

blend at edge5. Many ways to diffuse light-

Diffusion paper, silks, screens

Direct or Diffused light?

Bright/Dark Hard/Soft

• What is the difference between key (contrast) and diffusion?– Key is how shadowy / bright – Diffusion is how crisp the lines look– Many times the combo of high key/diffused or low

key/direct light used, but not in many instances…

Light and Directionality (Position of the light)

• Directionality—where is the light coming from?– Placement of light (or person in natural light)

determines direction and length of shadow – Decisions create texture, depth, mood, tone and can

develop character understanding and narrative– Range of light placement—3D—you can place lights

anywhere around a subject, not just the front– Frontal, ¾ Frontal, Side light, ¾ Back light, Back light,

High Angle, Low Angle (p249)

Basic 3 point lighting (plus)

• Basic Three Point Lighting:– Key, Fill, Back

• Standard Ratio: 2:1 (K:F – HK)• Key—motivated light (coming from a

source we know)• Fill—fills in as much shadow as you want• Back—separates subject from

background– Sets, Specials and Practicals

• Set lights: Additional lights used to light the set, not the subject

• Specials: low watt lights to illuminate a specific object or small area for special emphasis (DTE)

• Practicals: Lights that are included in the Mise en scene

Let’s watch some examples!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641619/dramatic_lighting/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641627/hard_and_soft_light/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641615/three_point_lighting/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641633/the_sun_as_a_key_light/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641607/capturing_better_color/

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/641545/exposure/