white balance, exposure and FIRE :) at DVinfo.net

Andrew McNeeley · August 6th, 2004, 12:40 AM

ok so maybe I'm a little nuts, but it seems to me that the best way to end my short film is to burn everything to the ground. :)

Problem is, the fire occurs on a talkshow and will be "spontaneous" SO...I'm thinking that a sudden burst of flame will completely ruin my manual white balance/exposure settings for the scene.

I realize I could simply cut away and back again with new settings but I think it will be much funnier to keep it as one continual shot. Actually, I'm not quite sure how to get those new settings without burning the set twice...I've also thought about leaving it in auto, but I'm worried this will make the last scene look different than the others.

Any thoughts?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · August 6th, 2004, 12:52 AM

So why bother to change anything - just let the fire take care of itself.
I suppose that you are set for tungsten anyway, so that won't make the fire seem too red.

Robin

Dean Sensui · August 6th, 2004, 04:09 AM

Do a test before the shoot.

Also, be sure to have a hose ready or at least a couple of extinguishers handy. Not sure what the situation is, but fire sometimes has a tendency to do something unexpected.

If a human being catches fire, nothing beats a lot of very cold water both to extinguish the flames and keep quickly cool down anything that might be hot and in contact with the victim.

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.

Andrew McNeeley · August 6th, 2004, 11:13 PM

LOL I'm not sure if that last post was supposed to be funny, but it was.

Fortunately for my friends and associates...the only things on fire will be the set and a poor poor puppet. Imagine being made of polyester and being on fire at the same time? LOL

Right now I'm trying to conceive a way to test this without actually burning anything too substantial or ruining any of my lights...

Jesse Bekas · August 7th, 2004, 03:33 PM

You also have to tak into account that as polyester burns, it will actually melt, drip, and pool up into a little burning puddle, as well as giving off a heavy black smoke. That will also affect shooting and exposure conditions.

August 6th, 2004, 12:40 AM	#1
Andrew McNeeley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 25	white balance, exposure and FIRE :) ok so maybe I'm a little nuts, but it seems to me that the best way to end my short film is to burn everything to the ground. :) Problem is, the fire occurs on a talkshow and will be "spontaneous" SO...I'm thinking that a sudden burst of flame will completely ruin my manual white balance/exposure settings for the scene. I realize I could simply cut away and back again with new settings but I think it will be much funnier to keep it as one continual shot. Actually, I'm not quite sure how to get those new settings without burning the set twice...I've also thought about leaving it in auto, but I'm worried this will make the last scene look different than the others. Any thoughts?

August 6th, 2004, 12:52 AM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	So why bother to change anything - just let the fire take care of itself. I suppose that you are set for tungsten anyway, so that won't make the fire seem too red. Robin

August 6th, 2004, 04:09 AM	#3
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Do a test before the shoot. Also, be sure to have a hose ready or at least a couple of extinguishers handy. Not sure what the situation is, but fire sometimes has a tendency to do something unexpected. If a human being catches fire, nothing beats a lot of very cold water both to extinguish the flames and keep quickly cool down anything that might be hot and in contact with the victim. Dean Sensui Base Two Productions.

August 6th, 2004, 11:13 PM	#4
Andrew McNeeley Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 25	LOL I'm not sure if that last post was supposed to be funny, but it was. Fortunately for my friends and associates...the only things on fire will be the set and a poor poor puppet. Imagine being made of polyester and being on fire at the same time? LOL Right now I'm trying to conceive a way to test this without actually burning anything too substantial or ruining any of my lights...

August 7th, 2004, 03:33 PM	#5
Jesse Bekas Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA Posts: 572	You also have to tak into account that as polyester burns, it will actually melt, drip, and pool up into a little burning puddle, as well as giving off a heavy black smoke. That will also affect shooting and exposure conditions.