How to light this stage

[Larrie Easterly]

The end of May I was asked to record a spiritual seminar for our church. There were three speakers and a four person panel that they wanted recorded. The lighting was from the event space ceiling LED light fixtures. They were happy with the results. I was not and suggested that we add some additional lights to brighten the stage.

After some discussion they agree more light would be a good idea as long as it did not washout what is on the projector screen. It turns out that they purposely kept the lighting levels low so that the screen was clearly visible.

Attached is a rough sketch showing the stage and room layout. I am thinking of putting LED panel lights, with grids, on stands at the corners of the stage.

Any thoughts on how much light, placement, type of lights, modifiers etc. will be appreciated.

[Allan Black]

More info needed Larrie. Quote: ‘So they were happy with the results’ So you’ve already finished one program? Is it the first of a series that will be available on say YouTube? And now you’re planning to add more lighting for the second one and so on?

If so, my question is, will your new lighting upgrade be so different to the first program that it’ll be very noticeable by the viewers, and especially if your client ‘was happy’ with your first results?

Here’s a suggestion with various spotlights closed down aimed at the moderator and panel. Then a couple of closed floods to brighten the balance of the set …

[Paul R Johnson]

There are a number of things that jump out from your image. First thing is the actual staging. The subjects have so much empty space between them and the audience. Lighting has been my thing for 40+ years. The screen, immediately behind the speakers is a BIG problem. You can bring in lights, but light does not magically stop when it has lit a face, it casts a shadow. So the people need to go towards the audience - Ideally closer to them than the screen. Get rid of the sound operator on the stage - that is visually annoying and technically poor - sound should be done from a place where the operator can hear what the audience hear. This setup means the op has no clue. One camera to the audience right includes that sound op in the image. Ideally, with just one camera, close in sideways means when the two furthest guests talk to each other, you see the back of one of their heads.

Lighting wise, your big snag is how to actually put the lights in the right place. Can you get them hung where they are needed. As a guide, on a stage like this, 45 degrees either side of centre, looking down at a 45 degree angle. That gives good modelling even if they turn their heads. 45 degrees also means you can remove the spill onto the screen. In this example below, you can see how shadows are very difficult to manage. The lights to illuminate the subjects are focussed in the right place, but where the people are in this picture, the nasty shadows the lights on the screen are really in the way. That truss they hang from had to be raised considerably to get them out of the way. You can also see how difficult it is to put lights where they are needed.

I would bring the guests towards the audience, then arrange lighting to get their faces lit, and hopefully the screen will be visible - but why make a sound op so visible? They should not be seen by the audience. They might be more interesting than the guests!

[Larrie Easterly]

Allan,
This is a private event for church members and happens once a year. I have not yet heard if they will post it on YT. This is the second year that they have been in this location. Last year the video was shot from a person seated in the front row. This year they asked me. I chose to shoot it from the side near the end of the audience seating.

The goal with the additional lights is to make to make the stage area brighter so that the house lights can be dimmed while still keeping the light off the projector screen. I was glad they did not want the screen contents in the video.

Paul,
The audience is actually much closer than I have shown in the sketch. In retrospect I really should have taken some still photos of the layout as a reference for the future.

The sound board location is outside my control. I will suggest that they move it to the back of the space.

The position of the camera actually worked pretty good. Where there was a single presenter I was able to zoom in on them to give a balanced frame. The same with the panelists although there were some audience heads in the frame. The sound board was actually further to the right that shown in the sketch so he was always out of frame.

I think I can get the angles you are recommending. The biggest concern I have with the lighting placement is the 9'-9" (3 M) high acoustic ceiling.

Thanks for your questions and recommendations.

[Paul R Johnson]

The usual solution if you can't hang is T bar stands, either side - one or two fixtures either side works well, and the best thing is that it removes the horrible flat results the usual flu tube replacements give - the people can be in puddles of light and outside that, is darkness, at least to the camera.

[Allan Black]

Larrie, if this is an annual event, you won’t need your updated lighting till next year?

So you’ve got time to call a video lighting specialist from a video shop who could visit your church and give you a number of possible solutions, and prices for new lights. You might be able to organise a deal whereby you get your new lights in exchange for some advertising, maybe including your church.
Good luck.