Question by notoriousebreak: What are the best lights for lighting a movie shot in mini DV format?
I think that one is pretty self explanitory. If you’ve got some good brands for me to check out, let me know. Also, if you know of any good books on the configuration of lights for this purpose, throw it out there. Any answers are appreciated! Thanks! Also – Try and answer my other question in Do It Yourself asking “How do I get a bar?”

Best answer:

Answer by Clancy the Wonder Pony
Don’t worry about brands of lights. Light is light, and it doesn’t matter who made the instrument. What you really need to worry about is how many lights you can get, what you’re pointing them at, and who’s going to be in charge of setting them up? Since you’re working with little/no budget you have to make the most of your resources. Have you considered using *no* lights? If you’ve never heard of Dogma films, then take a while to read about them.

http://www.google.com/search?q=dogma+95&start=0&ie=utf-8

The Dogma films prove that quality movies can be made with no outside lighting at all, and it’s definitely worth a look.

If you’re determined to use outside lights, then you’re going to have to get them from somewhere. Borrowing or renting is the way to go, as buying them will be prohibitively expensive. If you go the rental route, be sure to mention that you’re a student / indie filmmaker. Many rental houses will cut you a break now in hopes of keeping your business later.

The next key thing to worry about is who’s in charge of the lights. A competent cinematographer can do more with four well-placed lights than an amateur with a truck full of equipment. Get someone with experience shooting on DV, and take full advantage of what they know. Make sure they can shoot *your* kind of movie, as well. Someone who’s shot twenty horror films and nothing else might be completely useless if you’re making a romantic comedy.

There are a million books on cinema lighting, and I can’t really say that there’s one best one out there. If you don’t have much of a background in lighting then the most basic place you should start is reading up on three-point lighting.

Google for “three-point lighting”

http://www.google.com/search?q=three+point+lighting&start=0&ie=utf-8

A clear explanation of 3-point for computer-generated scenes. (It’s still the same theory)

http://www.andrew-whitehurst.net/3point.html

Last but not least, read a little about color temperature, color correcting gels, diffusion, and the tools you need to cut & shape lights (flags, silks, nets, cookies). Those fine touches are what separate amateur lighting (which looks doubly worse on video) from professional level work.

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