Cola SC?! I spent a semester there once... is Goat Feathers still in operation down at Five Points? I used to live in Shandon, within staggering distance...

All this lighting stuff keeps sounding difficult to learn. Best way
is to just do it I assume. Problem here is that I need to find
a place to get all this stuff. I also can't import from the US because
we are on different power cycles and all...

How do you use such equipment when out in the field? Rent
some big diesel power thing?

hi rob
 

hi rob,
for lighting i would advice to at least read 2 books and even more adviced is to look on small productions how they do it, or even better help them, best experience is hands on experience. books i can advice you to buy are : set lighting technicians handbook, the grip book, film lighting by kris malkiewicz and cinematography by kris malkiewicz. good places to rent are EFF and Singel lighting in the netherlands, i both think they are located in amsterdam. and for power you would need to rent a generator. if you want to learn more you could also contact me, in 2 months im going to shoot a 15 minute film with a reasonable crew and a great lighting package (and its being shot with the xl1) so if you would like you could join our team as production assistant or grip and learn lighting.

Re: hi rob
 

Bryan,

I'm planning on buying some lighting books indeed. I already
bought a pile of books so I'm waiting for my next credit card
month to arrive... Do you know if EFF & Singel have a website?
It would be nice to check those first.

I would love to join you on your 15 minute film shoot! Thank you
very much for the offer. I own an XL1S myself. I'd be happy to
help around assisting or gripping. Please contact me at
visuar@iname.com (I cannot contact you due to e-mail problems
with this board).

Again, thanks!

I just put together a lighting system ( all halogen) that cost me a whopping $120. I got everything from Lowes Big O'hardware store. Two really sturdy stands, 2 500w fixtures (too bright) - replaced with two 150w fixtures and two 60w fixtures for key and back lights. They all came with a UV glass filter and are well build.
Then I made some barn-doors and bingo! Saved about $1500.00. These lights, in combination with my on-cam canon light are making for exquisite video.

hmmm
 

hi there,
congrats on building a effective system that works for a low price, however i don't agree on what you said "Saved about $1500.00", that is not true. for some extra money you will have proffesional tungsten fresnel lights corerctly balanced and with barndoors, scrims, and its focusable. im not saying your system is bad, but for the 1500 extra you will have a great package too!

bye

Hey Randall, more detsail please! We all could use more lights, and at these prices, why not just whip it! I'm using Smith Victor halogens on regular stands (they're 650's and they are real bright), plus a Frezzi on the cam. But this sounds like fun. Got any brand/model info? How did you make the barns and how' you fasten'em to the lights? Etc.

Bryan,

Did you send me an e-mail by any chance? My mail service
seems to be a bit buggy.

Thanks.

Lighting links
 

I browsed the web and found a few useful (some more some less) links for those who want to learn more about lighting. Most of it is basics and low budget.

http://www.theallwoods.net/studio/hintstips/light/light.htm
http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/light/index.html
http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp027.htm
http://www.wwug.com/forums/lighting/index.htm (that´s a forum)
http://www.elitevideo.com/10-2.htm

3 part article:

http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0011/columns_frameset3.html
http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0012/videosmith.htm
http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0101/videosmith.htm

Cheers,

cyber college link
 

I checked out the link for cyber college that peter posted,

and wow, ive never seen more information on lighting before
online. what a great resource for basic lighting techniques.

for anyone who is still confused about lighting i suggest you
look at the link..

http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp027.htm

Thanks peter!

rob..
 

rob, i didn't email you yet, but i will in the coming days, i gotta prepare for that film i was telling you about.

Bryan,

Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Your mail didn't end up on
the digital hunting planes then :)

Sounds interesting in all, we'll talk about it later then. Have
a nice easter!

Black tin foil
 

Regarding the tin foil that was mentioned earlier in this thread:

I used this black tin foil on a shoot a couple of years ago in LA, this seems to be a pretty common product to use in the US.

Now I tried to get some here at home in Austria and it seems impossible to find as nobody knows what this is and no german word seems to exist for it.

Any of the europeans in the community know if this is being used here?

And to the ones who do use it in the US:
Is this foil a film business product or was it picked up from another industry and became common use in film? Maybe I can find it at some totally unexpected place if this is the case. BTW where could I get it in the US (haven´t checked the dealers websites yet)?

Cheers,

http://www.studiodepot.com/store/index.cgi?cmd=view_item&parent=1013-1174&id=7080

peter

i think this is what you are talking about blackwrap also known as cinefoil, i never used this but what i can make up from this is that they use it to make flags cheaply or close light leaks. but for flags a material called duvetyne is used, you can buy these in large rolls and make your own flags!!!

c ya