Documentary lighting package- any advice pls?

[June Zandona]

Hey all,

 

I'm putting together a small lighting package for a documentary where we'll be traveling extensively (we'll be living on a tour bus for three months and driving around the US-) and shooting a range of materials from sit down style interviews to music videos and impromptu musical performances. I haven't been given a ton of information on a specific look from the director or the prod. coordinator....so my main concern is price, portability, durability and flexibility.

 

We already have a couple of 1 ' LED Litepanels and an old Arrikit. I was thinking of getting some inexpensive soft sources, (chimera type set ups) that way if we are shooting at night backstage I can quickly add some fill light or ambiance, or use it as a nice interview light. I also might add a couple more small fresnels, just because you can shape the light to suit pretty much whatever.. I also think that having a some big flexfills for daylight stuff would be very useful. Thoughts?

 

Are budget to purchase lighting equipment (they don't want to rent because they will keep these lights for future use.) is about 3,000$. We are shooting on HVX200s.

 

Unfortunately we leave in a couple of days and I don't have time to just go play with lights and figure out what I want- which would be ideal, so any sage advice or recommendations on good, reasonably priced lights would be priceless!

 

Thanks!

(sorry for the verbose posting)

[Adrian Sierkowski]

June,

I'd personally go with one of the Arri Softbank kits, though you can also get away with normal arris w/o the Chimera and some diffusion gels (smaller).

The flexfill is a good choice, but you can also save money by just getting some whitecard/bounce board. Get a couple sheets and you can cut it.

 

 

Just my thoughts.

 

 

Also, look into an on-camera light. I used a Frezzi (i think?) recently which had a batter pack i slung over my shoulder and was dimmable. It worked out pretty well when running 'round backstage. You can also then give it to a separate operator if needed.

[June Zandona]

June,

I'd personally go with one of the Arri Softbank kits, though you can also get away with normal arris w/o the Chimera and some diffusion gels (smaller).

The flexfill is a good choice, but you can also save money by just getting some whitecard/bounce board. Get a couple sheets and you can cut it.

 

 

Just my thoughts.

 

 

Also, look into an on-camera light. I used a Frezzi (i think?) recently which had a batter pack i slung over my shoulder and was dimmable. It worked out pretty well when running 'round backstage. You can also then give it to a separate operator if needed.

 

thanks! I was contemplating on on-camera light, and it's something I will definitely look into.