Cinematography : Lighting and framing ideas for 1pp shots by Peter Rzazewski

Peter Rzazewski

Lighting and framing ideas for 1pp shots

We have three shots we need to execute and I'd appreciate your ideas on lighting and framing them. These are static shots, one point perspectives, shown each for a few seconds at most. The charter basically looks down at the thing and then up and over to another character off camera. The shots are flashbacks reminiscing the past: - seated at a kitchen table, looks down at food, tight of food, perhaps tight of face, back to wide w talent looking up and to the side towards off cam character - standing in living room in front of fireplace (1pp), looks down at awkward pants and then up to off cam character - playing a musical instrument poorly These are all shot inside this house. One will be shot single point perspective straight on with the subject standing in front of the fireplace (the table and sofa's will be removed to declutter as much as possible). The other in the other living room straight on with the subject standing at the sofa with the two lamps at either side (again, remove as much as possible to reduce clutter). The third with subject siting at the kitchen table: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vvq16ej908bnjqu/VGxsc4vFja I was thinking perhaps something with this look: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_pos... We're struggling with lighting and staging these shots. It's for a quirky commercial. Your suggestions are very much appreciated. Thank you.

Gabe Tullier

all depends on what kind of lighting gear you got... use natural light and bounce cards which can be bought as foam core at Home Depot. I'd try to separate the subject from the background with a hair light, hanging light on the back wall directly behind the subject, obviously key and fill... but keep the edges of the frame darker by keeping the light off the walls on either side of the subject(s)

David Navarro

A photo of the room you are actually shooting in would be more helpful as well as where the subject would be sitting in said room.

Peter Rzazewski

Gage: Thank you. Would the key and fill benefit from a large diffusion or do you think 2x1ft banks would suffice?

Peter Rzazewski

David: added photos of the scenes as suggested. These are not the final composition or camera but rather older photo panoramas.

Gabe Tullier

it depends on how wide you plan on shooting. you may need a cross bar to hang the light... I'd go soft, not hard light and let the color correction in post give you the quirkiness... the hard light will make it too dramatic light a horror story or intense documentary.... so diffuse the best you can with the gear you got while keeping the separated from the background.

David Navarro

Based on the photos you posted and the reference shot, this is is what I would do. For the back wall, I would place a unit outside the window and shoot it through some 250. Next I would make a book light by placing another unit inside (window side) and kick into a 4 x 4 foam core boxing it in a frame of opal and killing any spill with two floppies. Slight fill with another 4 x 4 bounce and no back light. If you need more ambient lighting for the room. Kick a light into the ceiling and adjust ambiance to taste. Hope this helps.

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