Nanlite/Nanlux has released Episode 3 of Rodney Charters ASC’s lighting tutorial series, which features John ‘Biggles’ Higgins as the lighting consultant. The on-set team for the project also includes gaffer Elena Armellini, electrician Joe Kennedy, and desk operator Samuel Hilaire.
If you missed episodes 1 & 2 you can watch them above.
The scene shown in episode 3 is a moment that everyone can relate to: On a lazy afternoon in the living room, the brother is playing his video game, his sister comes in and interrupts him, but he doesn’t want to cooperate. It’s a reminder of the good times we had with our siblings as children and young adults.
In this episode, you will also learn why it’s sometimes important to light a scene for continuity throughout the shoot day. While the natural light in a room may look good at a given time of day, it usually cannot be relied on to remain constant for long enough to complete filming. So, on set, artificial lighting is needed to provide stable and continuous lighting effects, ensuring the continuity of the visuals.
Instead of the real sun, the team uses Nanlux Evoke 2400B (set to 2700K) and Evoke 1200B LED spotlights to emulate warm afternoon sunlight flowing in through the windows. A PavoTube II 30XR is used to mimic the changing light from a television as the actor plays a game.
A Nanlite PavoSlim 120C LED panel light (bounced into a 4×4 bead board) is used to mimic soft reflections of sunlight on the walls and fill in the light on the characters’ faces.
To make the scene appear even more real, Charters opens the windows and has drapes, plants, and even his hand casting moving shadows over parts of the scene.
“I wave my fingers over her hair, so that we get a little bit of form and texture from outside. I always remember being taught how to use your fingers in front of a little Inky to simulate candlelight or flame or something. ” Charters says.
| A Nanlite PavoSlim 120C LED panel light (bounced into a 4×4 bead board) is used to mimic soft reflections of sunlight on the walls and fill in the light on the characters’ faces. |
| To make the scene appear even more real, Charters opens the windows and has drapes, plants, and even his hand casting moving shadows over parts of the scene. |
A PavoSlim 240C is placed in the doorway outside the room to mimic the hard light from the late afternoon sun. There is another PavoTube II 30XR inside a Caligri Airtube (a little blow-up pneumatic softbox). When the actress enters the room, a warmer and softer glow comes on her, which is actually a lovely light for faces.
The script is well written, and now, with careful crafting, lighting, performance, and capture, a great piece of work is presented with complete satisfaction. There’s nothing more gratifying than this.
Charters and his crew make full use of Nanlite and Nanlux lighting fixtures, demonstrating how light can become an integral part of storytelling. We hope you find this tutorial useful.
Episode 4 will be available on December 2nd.
