dance film -lighting plans

LIGHTING PLANS:

I began to start thinking about what kind of lighting I would need for each of my routines and dance sections. so I made some plans to start thinking about that now I have a location in mine. I will be filming at my house, in my living room. my reasoning for this is because the film is about my growing up, it felt appropriate to film in the space where it all happened as I have access to it. I have lived in my current home since I was 1 year old, and so all of these stages that I will explore in my film were lived in this environment. so after getting location permissions (bargaining with my mum), I have arranged to film on the 14th and 15th of april 2018. anyway, here are my lighting plans:

 

General 1-5 (first draft):

Why this wont work: the camera being placed from the same direction as the smaller light means that the light could get in the way of what I want to do, if I love in front of it I would cast a shadow. No back light – making it look flat on the camera.

Solve the issue – hire out more lights so I can have two at the front either side of film space. One on either side and a back light? Or, take away the two side lights, move them to front left and right, and move front light into a back light – issue is it will be seen in the shot…

Things to bare in mind: lights on location. Living room lights positioned on walls surrounding filming space – could be used as fill? Also ceiling lights, traditional house hold lights, could provide extra fil?

Parts 1-5 (second draft):

Provides a lot of fil from the front two lights, however only a small amount of light as a back light. That could be an issue, however more subtle. Add trace onto front two lights to soften around the subject as well as helping equal out light sources.

Issues:

Small amount of light as back. Maybe will still look flat on camera.

How to solve it:

Book out extra lights, use four 650W lights instead in a square formation around the subjects space? Apply trace to each light so it softens on the subject.

Location issue:

If filming in front half of living room, TV on the wall above fire place. Solve it by filming in rear half of living area, no reflective surface, slightly larger space anyway?)

Parts 1-5 (third draft):

Having all four lights in equal Watt around the subject will create a well, equally lit set around the subject. Nice back light. I will add trace to soften the light as I don’t want any harsh shadows.

Issues: over exposure? Will I be able to see the set as the set is relevant to the context of the film, it is important to me that it is visible. Heat?

How to solve it?:

Over exposure on the subject would be helped by adjusting the camera settings using Zebras, this could also be edited in post. In regards to being able to see the set, this would be more of a case of trial and error. I plan to hire out lights the day before and try it out, seeing which works ready to shoot. In response to the heat created by the lights on the subject, I would ensure regular and frequent breaks, provide the subject with water, as well as opening doors to enable air circulation

Part 6 (second draft):

•The two subjects at the last right are my two ballroom dancers performing a jive, they then go on to weave around the other 4 subjects all playing the different ages specified on the diagram. The weaving symbolises the joining together of each element of my life through the therapy, explained in my original proposal. The jive will work its way around each of the ages, and as it does they will smile and hold still as the jive continues through to the next break/age. Until they reach the left hand side of the room, ending in a close up shot by the camera.

•At this point it will show one member of the jive (playing me), at the front by the camera. The shot will change to the right hand side, showing all the ages lined up in a static shot. Then beginning to pan round to a close up of the jive member again showing that all of these ages have become me presently. It will then return to the right side static shot again showing only the present jive member, the others will have disappeared.

•The reason I have chosen this lighting for this sequence is because each light will focus on each age, making them separate from one another so that the jive can join them together, representing my friends who supported me during my breakthrough therapy.

•Problems: need to light from the front.

•How to solve it:

- Use the two spare 350W lights that I will have from the kits, to light either side of the camera at the front, subtle yet effective lighting as trace will be applied to the two front lights, however the other four main lights wont have trace applied so the light is harsh and creates deep shadowing around the subject. My reasoning for this is so that they are clearly separated. If I applied trace I feel like the softened light would blend together almost making them joined.