Main Task - Production - Lighting

All video uses some sort of lighting. Whether that be natural lighting (direct/indirectly from the sun), or artificial light. Artificial light can take many forms; it may be the light from a lighting kit used by the film crew, the lights from the ceiling of a room, the light from a computer monitor that's been left on etc. It is basically any light that doesn't come from the sun.

Although a lot of time & effort is required to set up the lighting apparatus as you require in order to get the effect/look you require, it is also equally as important to control external lighting factors on the set, other than your lighting apparatus. This may include, if shooting outside, to take into consideration the large amount of natural lighting that will affect the location, or it may be as simple as using an opaque material to cover up sources of light such as windows etc. or even just turning off/on the lights.
Even small factors such as white walls can have an effect on the shots you are filming, and potentially diminish the effect you are trying you obtain.


Things to consider when lighting shots:

• What effect do you want to obtain?
• What sort of mood?
• What sort of character?
• What do you want the audience feel?

• How will you achieve this?

• What are the lighting sources?
• Will these interrupt the effect you're trying to achieve?
• How can you reduce/eliminate the effect they have?
• How can you incorporate the lighting sources into the lighting of the shot effectively?

Lighting terminology & definitions:

• Scrim - A translucent material, usually a thin sheet, used to soften a harsh light.
• Gels - A translucent material, slightly thicker than scrim, and more 'gel'-like. Comes in a variety of colours, that are put in front of lights to change the colour of the light on a subject/area.
• Spill - Light that has seemingly 'spilled' out from the light. When the barn doors of a light are closed/partially closed, the gaps between the doors will let light out. The light from these gaps is also known as spill. Although the spill is usually unwanted, it can be used to give certain effects such as lighting up only very small areas of a subject such as their eyes, leaving the rest of the shot in darkness.
• Silhouette - The dark outline of a subject displayed on something with a lighter background. e.g. a person's silhouette against a wall (created using dim light)
• Shadow - An area that is not lit, due to the light being blocked.