2. Lighting
Once in a while we're asked to film in spaces beyond the Arts Cafe and Wexler studio--usually somewhere in the Writers House, but sometimes in CPCW or outside in the garden, and sometimes even further away. Generally these spaces are configured with good lighting--but not lighting that's condusive to filming. To this end we have our own light kits (they're kind of a pain in the ass to assemble, but it's something every Wexler staff member should know how to do).
Lighting plays an important role in determining the mood (as well as perceived professional quality) of a video recording. Obviously, the brightness of the shot is an important factor to consider, but we should also consider the "warmth" of the shot, a measurable phenomena (known as "temperature") affected by the ambient lighting that exists in the room, the particular lighting fixtures used in the room, and which type of lightbulb we choose to use in our light kits.
Our studio is currently equipped with two sets of bulbs: 2700K, and 5000K. 2700K bulbs simulate the yellowish indoor light temperatures of incandescent bulbs, and give a "warmer," more "homely" feel to a shot. 5000K bulbs simulate daylight and are so white that they appear almost blue. They tend to give a "cooler," brighter feel to a shot.
One standard lighting setup that serves a variety of practical applications in film and video is a configuration of lights known as "three point lighting." In this configuration, a "key light" situated in front of the subject (usually left or right of center) provides the primary lighting for the shot, a "fill light" to the side of the subject mitigates the shadows on one side of the subject caused by the key light, and a "back light" provides a sense of depth from behind the subject, emphasizing the countors of the hair and shoulder line. Often times, natural sunlight can take the place of the key and sometimes the fill light.
There's not much else to say on the subject--you should spend some time experimenting with the light kits, watching how they affect the lighting quality of your shots, and definitely gain some experience setting up and breaking down the kits!
Readings and Resources
- Color temperature (Lumicrest)
- Three point lighting (Vimeo Video School)