I'm checking into building my own light kit. I need to light a green screen and one actor.

I was thinking of placing 2 - 500 or 600 watt lights on each side (near where talent will be standing) facing the green screen using diffusion. A 200 watt light near the green screen but aimed back at the talent as their backlight. And, place a 1k or 2k soft light on the left side of camera as actor's key and use a bounce card on the right of camera. (see sample lighting layout bottom of email)

Can someone tell me if I can build a light kit out of maybe worklights or something just to work for a few shoots before I buy a kit?

Lisa


green screen
200 watt talent backlight


500/600 watt 500/600 watt
light screen light screen

Talent
(about 6-10 feet
from screen full
body shot)




2k soft camera bounce card

yes you can build it. go the the hardware store and buy everything you will need. i've done this before.

First you will want to draw out on paper the sizes of the light(s). this way you know what size to get the wood cut and how much wood you will need. so anyway, for example, the you are going to make a square light box, 2 feet by 2 feet by 3 feet deep ( keep in mind, that deep, means the distance light bulb sits away from the front of the light. so in this case, you wood cut to make that box shape, you can nail, screw or staple the wood togather, then you buy at the hardware store (you can get everything at the hardware store) ok, so you buy two light sockets that will support 200 and 500 watt blubs. these sockets come with a base, which has two of three holes on the base, so that you can screw or nail them into place, I would screw them, it's best that way. then you can get some white drafting paper and which you will use to cover the front and most likely the side of the light box with. once you put this all together you have a light. hey there are many ways to do this or make a light, it depends on what you want. one note this can in some cases, cost almost as much money as renting or buying lights, and it take a little time. why don't you just rent them.