Lighting ScenariosLighting ScenariosLecture prepared 9/8/10
by John M. Grace,film worker and instructor
D.A.T.A. Charter High SchoolAlbuquerque, NM© 2010, John M. Grace
All Rights Reservedfor use availability,
email [email protected]
A Basic Grip/Electric Package
The goal for a Gaffer or Cinematographer The goal for a Gaffer or Cinematographer should be to make the lighting appear should be to make the lighting appear organic. Good lighting should look natural organic. Good lighting should look natural and not call attention to itself. The best and not call attention to itself. The best tribute that I can receive is for people to tribute that I can receive is for people to think a scene was lighted entirely with think a scene was lighted entirely with natural light and not to notice my work. natural light and not to notice my work. Above and following are some lighting Above and following are some lighting diagrams from classic films.diagrams from classic films.
Harry Potter
A fun exercise for students is to take scenes from popular films and to imagine the lighting used for the scene
Cam
eraLab Table
Harry PotterFresnelBack Light
Fresnel Bounce Fill
Fresnel Key Light
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight
FluoroescentFluoroescent
300w Fresnel
Cam
era
Women Without Men
Women Without Men
Cam
era
Fresnel
300w Fresnel
Forty Shades of Blue
Fresnel
Forty Shades of Blue
Cam
era
BAR
Practical
Fresnel
Soft Box
Practical
Charlie Wilson’s War
Fresnel
Charlie Wilson’s War
Cam
era
Practical
Fresnel
Fresnel
Soft Box
Boys Town
Cam
eraDESK
FresnelHMI
Boy’s TownFresnel
FresnelFresnel
Soft Box
The Grass Grows Green
Cam
eraDESK
The Grass Grows GreenFresnel
FresnelFresnel
Casablanca
Have your students try creating a lighting plot for these or other scenes for experience
Casablanca
Inception
Raisin in the Sun
Three Penny Opera
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