Low cost, effective fake TV flicker

Josh Bass · January 16th, 2004, 11:36 PM

Thanks guys. I have, however, been blessed to make an arrangement with a local studio to borrow their gear whenever, as long as I give them a heads up and treat it nicely. Consequently, I now have in my possession a 2k zip light, and a 1k dimmer (I'll only use one of the 1k bulbs in the ziplight), and a few other things.

I think if I had to do it with the gear available to me that I own, I would have, like some of you, just waved something in front of a gelled light. . .looked pretty good when I was screwing around.

K. Forman · January 17th, 2004, 06:10 AM

What about taping a string of blue and white blinking christmas lights to the front of a tv? If they blink fast enough, it seems like that might work?

Josh Bass · January 17th, 2004, 11:05 AM

Yeah, but it'd be over the top, I think. One of the things this DP friend of mine told me is that people overdo the effect too often--making these crazy flickers when they're supposed to be watching something calm. The flicker should come from when the picture on the TV allegedly changes significantly---so if you're watching a music video, then it'd be crazy, but if it was a narrative piece (sitcom, drama, movie) then the cuts would only come every few seconds, maybe. Kind of a randomized pattern is what you want.

Scott Spears · January 17th, 2004, 11:30 AM

You're right about the frequency of the flicker. Don't over do it. The light changes are motived by what ever is on the TV, so unless the character is watching MTV or something else with fast cuts, then the flicker should be infrequent, like once every 3-6 seconds.

One night I was walking down the street and looked up at a window (Hey, I'm not a peeping tom), and saw the flicker of a TV and noticed that the shadows from the flicker actually changed positions, as if it were two light soucres. It must have been a big TV, 27' or better and whatever they were watching had compositions with lots of contrast. It was like half the screen was bright and then on a cut it switched, thus causing the shadows to shift, just like if you had two light souces going on and off that were a foot or so apart.

Sorry to babble on, but I would have never thought of it unless I saw the effect in real life.

Scott

January 16th, 2004, 11:36 PM	#16
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Thanks guys. I have, however, been blessed to make an arrangement with a local studio to borrow their gear whenever, as long as I give them a heads up and treat it nicely. Consequently, I now have in my possession a 2k zip light, and a 1k dimmer (I'll only use one of the 1k bulbs in the ziplight), and a few other things. I think if I had to do it with the gear available to me that I own, I would have, like some of you, just waved something in front of a gelled light. . .looked pretty good when I was screwing around. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 17th, 2004, 11:05 AM	#18
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Yeah, but it'd be over the top, I think. One of the things this DP friend of mine told me is that people overdo the effect too often--making these crazy flickers when they're supposed to be watching something calm. The flicker should come from when the picture on the TV allegedly changes significantly---so if you're watching a music video, then it'd be crazy, but if it was a narrative piece (sitcom, drama, movie) then the cuts would only come every few seconds, maybe. Kind of a randomized pattern is what you want. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

January 17th, 2004, 11:30 AM	#19
Scott Spears Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 65	You're right about the frequency of the flicker. Don't over do it. The light changes are motived by what ever is on the TV, so unless the character is watching MTV or something else with fast cuts, then the flicker should be infrequent, like once every 3-6 seconds. One night I was walking down the street and looked up at a window (Hey, I'm not a peeping tom), and saw the flicker of a TV and noticed that the shadows from the flicker actually changed positions, as if it were two light soucres. It must have been a big TV, 27' or better and whatever they were watching had compositions with lots of contrast. It was like half the screen was bright and then on a cut it switched, thus causing the shadows to shift, just like if you had two light souces going on and off that were a foot or so apart. Sorry to babble on, but I would have never thought of it unless I saw the effect in real life. Scott __________________ Scott Spears Emmy Winner Cinematographer http://www.scottspears.net IMDB listing: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817387/

January 17th, 2004, 06:10 AM	#17
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	What about taping a string of blue and white blinking christmas lights to the front of a tv? If they blink fast enough, it seems like that might work?