Backlighting solutions for low budget/on location filming? at DVinfo.net

Jon Palmer · February 7th, 2008, 05:01 AM

Hi everyone...

I'll be filming a project soon that will require on location shooting in offices and living rooms - we have three red head lights with basic stands to work with.

So my question is....how do I get the back light up high enough without having a lighting grid on the roof?

I can think of a few shaky solutions of the top of my head:

1) the stands can extend pretty high (about 2.2 meters) - keep the camera
low and 'disguise' the stand in the background with props?

2) Sit the light outside a window and stage the scene so the actors have
their back to it? (Although by doing that the light is no longer coming from above - would that make a huge difference?

3) Somehow work out a way to hold the lights in an 'underslung' position?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys.

Dave Dodds · February 7th, 2008, 10:57 AM

For the office stuff, it might be as simple as getting some scissor clamps if the offices have drop ceilings. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...sor_Clamp.html

Otherwise, why not pick up a boom stand or two? Check out this thread. There are some links to some products. http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=113327

Good luck.

~~Dave

Bill Pryor · February 7th, 2008, 01:14 PM

A boom is good, or a C-stand with double arms, sandbagged of course...the arms extended out far enough to keep the stand out of the shot. Scissors clamps, as mentioned above, are great for offices with drop ceilings.

Jon Palmer · February 9th, 2008, 05:21 AM

Great!

Thanks for the replies guys, really helpful.

Heiko Saele · February 9th, 2008, 09:26 AM

By all means get some good clamps - in most offices/apartments you will find a place to fix a clamp out of frame. You can use anything like kitchen cupboards, coat hooks, curtain rails, racks, doors... very quick and easy compared to a C-stand.

Bill Pryor · February 9th, 2008, 12:37 PM

Good point. Things like gator grips, Mayfer clamps and Israeli arms can do a lot in situations like that.

They don't call them gator grips anymore: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Sky_Hook.html

Dave Dodds · February 9th, 2008, 01:38 PM

For the record, "Mayfer," spelled "Mafer," and sometimes pronounced "Maffer," are also sometimes referred to as "Superclamp." Before Matthews made them and coined the now-popular term, "Mafer Clamp," Bogen/Manfrotto (the inventors) called them "Superclamps."

Just making sure credit goes where credit's due. Also, I'm trying to prevent forced preference for MSE when you go shopping. If you search "Mafer," you get Matthews gear. If you try "Superclamp," you get Bogen and Avenger. This way, you can look at all of the options and compare brands.)

I agree with everyone about clamps. They are so handy. I would start with a few each of gators, scissors and superclamps (mafers). You'll be very happy you did.

Good luck.

~~Dave

Heiko Saele · February 10th, 2008, 04:48 AM

I recently used a Dedolight-clamp for a 1kW open face and it worked pretty well - the Dedo clamp is so small you can basically fit two of them in your pocket.

Jon Palmer · February 10th, 2008, 09:25 PM

The clamps definetely look and sound like the best option. Thanks once again everyone!

February 7th, 2008, 05:01 AM	#1
Jon Palmer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 36	Backlighting solutions for low budget/on location filming? Hi everyone... I'll be filming a project soon that will require on location shooting in offices and living rooms - we have three red head lights with basic stands to work with. So my question is....how do I get the back light up high enough without having a lighting grid on the roof? I can think of a few shaky solutions of the top of my head: 1) the stands can extend pretty high (about 2.2 meters) - keep the camera low and 'disguise' the stand in the background with props? 2) Sit the light outside a window and stage the scene so the actors have their back to it? (Although by doing that the light is no longer coming from above - would that make a huge difference? 3) Somehow work out a way to hold the lights in an 'underslung' position? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys. __________________ I had a handle on life but it broke.

February 9th, 2008, 05:21 AM	#4
Jon Palmer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 36	Great! Thanks for the replies guys, really helpful. __________________ I had a handle on life but it broke.

February 10th, 2008, 09:25 PM	#9
Jon Palmer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 36	The clamps definetely look and sound like the best option. Thanks once again everyone! __________________ I had a handle on life but it broke.

February 7th, 2008, 10:57 AM	#2
Dave Dodds Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 204	For the office stuff, it might be as simple as getting some scissor clamps if the offices have drop ceilings. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...sor_Clamp.html Otherwise, why not pick up a boom stand or two? Check out this thread. There are some links to some products. http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=113327 Good luck. ~~Dave

February 7th, 2008, 01:14 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	A boom is good, or a C-stand with double arms, sandbagged of course...the arms extended out far enough to keep the stand out of the shot. Scissors clamps, as mentioned above, are great for offices with drop ceilings.

February 9th, 2008, 09:26 AM	#5
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	By all means get some good clamps - in most offices/apartments you will find a place to fix a clamp out of frame. You can use anything like kitchen cupboards, coat hooks, curtain rails, racks, doors... very quick and easy compared to a C-stand.

February 9th, 2008, 12:37 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Good point. Things like gator grips, Mayfer clamps and Israeli arms can do a lot in situations like that. They don't call them gator grips anymore: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Sky_Hook.html

February 9th, 2008, 01:38 PM	#7
Dave Dodds Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 204	For the record, "Mayfer," spelled "Mafer," and sometimes pronounced "Maffer," are also sometimes referred to as "Superclamp." Before Matthews made them and coined the now-popular term, "Mafer Clamp," Bogen/Manfrotto (the inventors) called them "Superclamps." Just making sure credit goes where credit's due. Also, I'm trying to prevent forced preference for MSE when you go shopping. If you search "Mafer," you get Matthews gear. If you try "Superclamp," you get Bogen and Avenger. This way, you can look at all of the options and compare brands.) I agree with everyone about clamps. They are so handy. I would start with a few each of gators, scissors and superclamps (mafers). You'll be very happy you did. Good luck. ~~Dave

February 10th, 2008, 04:48 AM	#8
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	I recently used a Dedolight-clamp for a 1kW open face and it worked pretty well - the Dedo clamp is so small you can basically fit two of them in your pocket.