Film and Video Lighting For Low Budgets

Film and Video Lighting for Low Budgets

Lighting is a way of making the background of a film and video production look colorful by moderately beautifying the scene, materials, set construction and dressing in the form of what is called a film pitch or treatment. Film and video lighting uses a variety of technologies and techniques to set up. This can take several hours or even days.

Being creative and innovative opens up a room for initiating a low budget plan for film and video lighting. This is because there are many other ways to create lighting effects for film and video without having to spend extra cash. Working creatively, one may shoot through a magnifying glass for shots underwater, through a water fall, or use glass objects or containers, such as an aquarium, car mirrors, sliding glass doors and other reflecting objects. Creativity also demands choosing a big budget location for a low budget plan. Getting to choose an ideal location involves films shot at exotic places such as in a distant island, a tourist location, and large farm gardens instead of the usual rented warehouse. An ideal location also can be in an abandoned building, a school university, or a local grave yard.

Lighting has a greater dynamic range in film than in video. With the improvement in video tapes in recent times, videos do not require more light for exposure. Although, film still has a greater light range. The fundamental lighting process for film and video is a three–point system consisting of a key light, a fill light, and a back light. The key light, which is the primary light in the system, stimulates the natural light and it is usually placed between 30 and 45 degrees from the camera. The fill light is designed to partially fill or soften the shadows created by the key light. It has a lower intensity and it diffuses more light than the key light at an angle of 30-45 degrees from the camera. It is usually placed on the opposite side from the key light and at the height of the camera. The back light is placed above the rear of the subject by avoiding the light coming directly into the camera lens. It also helps to separate the upper portion of the subject from the background.

Low budget lighting can be a little bit difficult to come by, but no matter the state of the costume, highly sophisticated cameras have been designed to beautify the colors to make them appealing to the eye of the viewer.

Here are links to various sites for film and video lighting, equipment, and how to plan a low budget for lighting in film and video.

  • Film and video lighting: Tips about the effects of lighting in film and video production by analyzing film and video lighting set up and operations.
  • All about Video Lighting: Techniques on contrast ratio, cool temperatures, gels and diffusions, and varied setting, including some common lighting problems.
  • Video Lighting Tips: An outline on some basic tips for making the most of your video lighting.
  • Video Shooting Tips: A how-to guide on video shooting including lighting, backgrounds, clothing and framing, including pictures.
  • Kodak Lighting Tips: Kodak shares an in-depth look at different types of lighting including: portraits, natural light, the direction of light, black & white pictures, light quality, flash lighting, etc.