Rain streaks from a window projected on objects

[Mike Calla]

I don't know where else to post this:

I have a commercial shoot coming up that calls for "rain streaks from the window visible on body/shoes"

If you've ever seen the movie "In Cold Blood", you know what they are calling for:
Robert Blakes character has a monologue by a window that has rain streaks running down it, and the rain streaks are "projected" onto his face.

for testing - i got a 250W, a 500w and a 1k Fresnel, and a 50 by 50cm sheet of glass in my apartment right now but damned if i can find a way to get the rain streaks projected on to the objects! But i got the rain streaks on the window itself looking great! That will come in handy one day:)

FWIW I do not need the show the windows and "objects" in the same shot.

Anyone have any ideas??

[Norman Pogson]

Hi Mike, I think it is to do with the distance the glass with drops of water on are to the light source and person, I have not done this, but I do use cookies to project onto backgrounds and by moving the distance of the cookie to the wall I can get a more or less focused shadow.

[Mike Calla]

ya, been using cookies for years as well, but never with cookies as fine, nor as translucent as this.

I've just text msged a friend of friend who's a 1st AC on big budgets and he's said "Its one of the hardest lighting techniques (i keep forgetting we have a lighting section here at DVinfo, should have posted there). He said, "nowadays, we use a projector with a controller to project on to whatever. Try with it with the camera synced to projs scan rate"

i'm not sure about the controller part, must have to do with scan/refresh rate... i'll have to look in to it, but i think its a pretty good solution. i have more control - i can film plates of differing sizes for different shots ie bigger streaks for CUs, smaller for wide shots, etc.

I'll give it try!

[Jon Bickford]

you need a lot of distance between the light source and the window for them to be projected in focus, at least 12' + as a minimum,

you also might consider adding a drop of ink to the water to make the streaks a little bit darker.

there's another great example of the technique in "Bringing out the dead" where nicholas cage is trying to take a nap in the ambulance. beautiful.

[Jon Bickford]

another thing is to consider using baby oil because it won't dry off quickly from the heat of the light and might bead a little better.

also, try rubbing the glass down with rain-x, that will make the water bead and form droplets which will likely be thicker and more prominent.

[Mike Calla]

Originally Posted by Jon Bickford

you need a lot of distance between the light source and the window for them to be projected in focus, at least 12' + as a minimum,

you also might consider adding a drop of ink to the water to make the streaks a little bit darker.

there's another great example of the technique in "Bringing out the dead" where nicholas cage is trying to take a nap in the ambulance. beautiful.

With much experientation I came to this conclusion. It's quite a delicate balance!
I like the ink touch!

[Steve Oakley]

you'll find a hard source will work better. try removing a lens from one of your fresnels, or getting your hands on a DP light or Red Head. a hard source is your best starting point. you can always add fill as needed.

[Steve Oakley]

you'll find a hard source will work better. try removing a lens from one of your fresnels, or getting your hands on a DP light or Red Head. a hard source is your best starting point. you can always add fill as needed.

[Jon Fairhurst]

For a film noir parody where we wanted the hardest possible shadows, we bought home depot fixtures with snoots and 300W incandescent bulbs with clear glass. We hand picked the bulbs that had the smallest filament footprint when viewed from the front.

I'm not sure that a Fresnel would give as small a spot. As I recall, ARRIs mount the bulb vertically and there is a reflector behind the bulb. Maybe an ellipsoidal fixture would give a smaller source when the glass is removed.

If all else fails, do a test with a glass incandescent with a black foil snoot. It's cheap!