[SML] lighting for video (from a live theatre background)

Mon May 25 19:15:00 UTC 2020

Andrew –

I do a fair amount of “for video” lighting using in-house
theatre systems and tend to have pretty good success.  Here
are a few random notes:

1)  My talent is seldom stationary so I rarely use
“pin-point” lighting.  All is typically a “wash” approach.

2)  My ideal (somewhat) “key” angles are 30° up from
horizontal and 30° either side of dead-on.

3)  I add low-angle (15°ish) front “eye-socket” lighting.
(Rarely run more than 20%.)

3)  I try to get side lighting at a similar vertical angle
to my key light.

4)  Back-light is a must – 60° from horizontal.

5)  The way you describe area overlap mimics my approach –
50% area overlap.  Provided fixtures are in relatively good
condition, I rarely have an issue getting an even wash –
metered, not just to the eye.  

6)  Front and side fixtures are always ellipsoidals.  Rear
are either fresnels or PARs.

7)  Color is pretty-much always some level of CTB and L257
or L256 – enough frost to help w. blending but not so much
so as to lose shaping.

8)  I use foot (hat) lights here-and-there but never run
more than 10%-15% or so.

I hope that this helps a little.

Regards –

C. Andrew Dunning

Landru Design

-

Nashville, TN, USA

-

 <mailto:cad at landrudesign.com> cad at landrudesign.com

 <mailto:landrudesign at gmail.com> landrudesign at gmail.com

landrudesign at comcast.net

www.landrudesign.com

From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net]
On Behalf Of Riter, Andrew via Stagecraft
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2020 12:17 PM
To: 'stagecraft at theatrical.net'
Cc: Riter, Andrew
Subject: [SML] lighting for video (from a live theatre
background)

Hi everyone.

Back again after a few years away, and I hope this version
is still up and running, and hasn’t been totally supplanted
by the FaceBook group.

I’m in need of some advice.  Given the past few months, and
the worry of keeping a live performance venue operating in
the next 24 months, it looks like we’re moving to a video
camera environment rather than a live audience.  We’re
looking to become a video/webcasting/recording venue for
whatever artists want to hire us, but without audiences.

My background for 30 years has been lighting for live
theatre / classical orchestral concerts.  We’ve also had our
fair share of IMAG in conferences and netflicks/appleTV and
Hollywood film shoots, and amplified world music and pop
shows.

I need to advise the powers that be what we need to change
for lighting in order to successfully market ourselves and
produce good quality video.  My problem is I DON’T KNOW.

My big challenge in this is getting an even wash across the
front of the stage for the wide shot, or when someone walks
across the stage.  Head shots / tight shots with the camera,
I’ll be fine.

We’re a concert hall (open concept, no proscenium) with a
maple wood finish.  The room lights up really easily.

The Front light for the 60’ apron is from 1 front of house
cove (25’ wide) at a very high angle.  So High I need to
fill in under the eyebrows with lower side lighting.  The
apron is covered by (6) 10deg S4 with lots of overlap.

|  o(    )o(    )o(    )o(    )o(    )o  |

Basically the edge of lamp is almost at the hotspot of the
next.  Anyone walking across is pretty blippy (bright dark
bright).  It’s noticeable to the eye, but I’m afraid of it
looking worse on video.

So, my question:  what’s the best way to fix this?  I can
add frost to the 10deg units, but any frost tends to light
up the venue event more than it currently does.  19deg units
won’t have the punch from so far away.

I have fresnels in stock I could add to the front lighting
system (maybe, somewhere) to even out the wash.  Good / bad
idea?

If I go with big and washy, do I accept that the house is
going to light up really bright?  Is that typical in a video
shoot in an established theatre?  When the movie shoots come
in, they light up the room, not caring about spill, because
they are controlling the camera shots.  I expect our
business will be 1 day in and out, so the time to properly
frame shots, set levels, etc won’t be in my favour.

I have ETC coloursource4 units on the balcony side light
positions (think balcony front rail, but running down the
side of the horseshoe).  Great for low angle into the eyes,
but bad for into the eyes of musicians across the stage from
the source.  But maybe not bright enough with the LED frost
installed.

I’ve got a front balcony rail, but can only run it
(currently) at about 30% before the talent starts
complaining.  (currently (2) 14deg S4;  if I add more units,
I could lower intensity and reduce the pin spots blinding
them).

I’ve seen lots of videos of comedians and pop concerts with
foot lights / strip lights.  I haven’t seen the effect of
them on the talent in the videos.  Is it useful?  Is it
filling in under the chin and eyebrows?  Is it worth trying
50’ of them along the apron edge?

Thoughts or advice?  Any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

Andrew M. Riter

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

6265 Crescent Road,

Vancouver, BC

V6T 1Z1

604-808-2033

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