Projection of Rain Drops ? at DVinfo.net

Hyun De Grande · October 24th, 2007, 09:59 AM

Hi,

I'm shooting a short movie for school in two weeks. It's in a hotel room, on a rainy evening.

Basicly what I want to do with my lighting is to get it very dark & stylistic like 2046 with the colors of Amélie Poulain, and some noir-like contrasts..

But there's something else I want to achieve, and that is to get the shadows from the raindrops on the window projected on the opposite wall.. But I really don't know if that is possible in a good-looking kind of way?

And if so, what do you think is the easiest way to do this?

I was thinking of making a glass plate with a gardenhose attached to one side of it (wich will be the upper side) in which there are little holes, so the water can fall down over the glass plate..
Then use a 2000watt light-source to get the shadows...

What do you think? Would this work? Won't it look cheesy? Can it be done right?

Thanks!!

Scott S. Thomas · October 25th, 2007, 03:28 AM

Sounds like it would work, I would make sure that the glass is tall enough so that you can get some good streaming down the glass before it hits the light. If you try this, let us know how it works out.

Scott.

Brian Drysdale · October 25th, 2007, 04:10 AM

You just need a hard light source. A Fresnel spot should do the job, the effect has been used in quite a few films.

Hyun De Grande · October 26th, 2007, 12:37 AM

Could you please name some films where it has been done ?? It would be really helpful to see some results.

Thanks !!

Sean Skube · October 26th, 2007, 10:43 AM

Check out In Cold Blood. There's a classic shot in that of raindrops shadowing across the dude's face.

Brian Drysdale · October 26th, 2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Skube

Check out In Cold Blood. There's a classic shot in that of raindrops shadowing across the dude's face.

Yes, they used that in "Visions of Light". There's a rain effect in "Apocalypse Now - Redux" in the interior helicopter scene with one of the Playboy centrefolds, although the rain is a heavy downpour.

Jaron Berman · October 26th, 2007, 03:38 PM

it's not necessarily the strength of the light so much as the hardness of the light, as Brian mentioned. Whether you use a 2k or 200 watts is up to you and the amount of light you have on the rest of your set. In cold blood was likely shot using brute arcs, which are incredibly sharp light sources. They have incredibly small "sources" inside, and therefore can better mimic a point source like the sun. Plus they're very powerful, so you can back them way off, and make the source even more point-like.

As an experiment, set up a light of any kind and make shadow puppets on a wall. When the source is close to your puppet, look how soft the shadow is. When the source is relatively small compared to your puppet, look how sharp the shadow is. That's basically what you're looking to do with your water. The only reason why the power of your light will matter is because once you have your light at a distance that makes the effect you want, it should have enough power to give the exposure you're looking for. Yes a 2K will have a larger lens than a 650 or a 300, but that's really more important when you're looking for large, even light.

The key in your case will be experimenting till you're happy. If you have a 2k, and the power to run it, you may try removing the lens and backing it off as far as you can outside the window, watching the effect as it moves. Have someone start with the light about 10' from the window, and back it off slowly till you like it. Then carefully flag it until its hitting what you want, and not spilling everywhere. A little water on the glass should project across the room...but be careful as it may be too extreme of an effect. Flagging the light will be your difference between success and "I think I see what you were going for...interesting idea."

Richard Andrewski · October 26th, 2007, 08:53 PM

Another possibility seems to me could be the use of a video projector. These all have a point hard light source (usually metal halide these days) used to project your image. A video of some drops on a glass could also yield the look you want with whatever color correction that would be necessary for the very blue look you'll get from a video projector. Just rent or borrow one if you don't have one...

Hyun De Grande · November 18th, 2007, 04:13 AM

The experiment worked out more or less as I hoped for. I will upload it once the film is edited, so it will take a while..

Anyway, thanks for your input !!

October 24th, 2007, 09:59 AM	#1
Hyun De Grande Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oostkamp & Ghent, Belgium Posts: 32	Projection of Rain Drops ? Hi, I'm shooting a short movie for school in two weeks. It's in a hotel room, on a rainy evening. Basicly what I want to do with my lighting is to get it very dark & stylistic like 2046 with the colors of Amélie Poulain, and some noir-like contrasts.. But there's something else I want to achieve, and that is to get the shadows from the raindrops on the window projected on the opposite wall.. But I really don't know if that is possible in a good-looking kind of way? And if so, what do you think is the easiest way to do this? I was thinking of making a glass plate with a gardenhose attached to one side of it (wich will be the upper side) in which there are little holes, so the water can fall down over the glass plate.. Then use a 2000watt light-source to get the shadows... What do you think? Would this work? Won't it look cheesy? Can it be done right? Thanks!! __________________ My movies:http://nl.youtube.com/user/somatichdg -> Comments are welcome.

October 25th, 2007, 03:28 AM	#2
Scott S. Thomas Tourist Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 3	Good idea Sounds like it would work, I would make sure that the glass is tall enough so that you can get some good streaming down the glass before it hits the light. If you try this, let us know how it works out. Scott.

October 26th, 2007, 12:37 AM	#4
Hyun De Grande Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oostkamp & Ghent, Belgium Posts: 32	Could you please name some films where it has been done ?? It would be really helpful to see some results. Thanks !! __________________ My movies:http://nl.youtube.com/user/somatichdg -> Comments are welcome.

October 26th, 2007, 08:53 PM	#8
Richard Andrewski Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Shenzhen, China Posts: 781	Another possibility seems to me could be the use of a video projector. These all have a point hard light source (usually metal halide these days) used to project your image. A video of some drops on a glass could also yield the look you want with whatever color correction that would be necessary for the very blue look you'll get from a video projector. Just rent or borrow one if you don't have one... __________________ Richard Andrewski - Cool Lights USA - RED #114 http://www.coollights.biz

November 18th, 2007, 04:13 AM	#9
Hyun De Grande Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oostkamp & Ghent, Belgium Posts: 32	The experiment worked out more or less as I hoped for. I will upload it once the film is edited, so it will take a while.. Anyway, thanks for your input !! __________________ My movies:http://nl.youtube.com/user/somatichdg -> Comments are welcome.

October 25th, 2007, 04:10 AM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	You just need a hard light source. A Fresnel spot should do the job, the effect has been used in quite a few films.

October 26th, 2007, 10:43 AM	#5
Sean Skube Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 156	Check out In Cold Blood. There's a classic shot in that of raindrops shadowing across the dude's face.

October 26th, 2007, 03:38 PM	#7
Jaron Berman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 439	it's not necessarily the strength of the light so much as the hardness of the light, as Brian mentioned. Whether you use a 2k or 200 watts is up to you and the amount of light you have on the rest of your set. In cold blood was likely shot using brute arcs, which are incredibly sharp light sources. They have incredibly small "sources" inside, and therefore can better mimic a point source like the sun. Plus they're very powerful, so you can back them way off, and make the source even more point-like. As an experiment, set up a light of any kind and make shadow puppets on a wall. When the source is close to your puppet, look how soft the shadow is. When the source is relatively small compared to your puppet, look how sharp the shadow is. That's basically what you're looking to do with your water. The only reason why the power of your light will matter is because once you have your light at a distance that makes the effect you want, it should have enough power to give the exposure you're looking for. Yes a 2K will have a larger lens than a 650 or a 300, but that's really more important when you're looking for large, even light. The key in your case will be experimenting till you're happy. If you have a 2k, and the power to run it, you may try removing the lens and backing it off as far as you can outside the window, watching the effect as it moves. Have someone start with the light about 10' from the window, and back it off slowly till you like it. Then carefully flag it until its hitting what you want, and not spilling everywhere. A little water on the glass should project across the room...but be careful as it may be too extreme of an effect. Flagging the light will be your difference between success and "I think I see what you were going for...interesting idea."