How do I set up lighting for these scene

[John1]

Being practicing lighting for a while and its been somehow very complicated for me perhaps because I don't have the right tools or perhaps because I am somehow scared to experiment. How do i setup lighting for this type of scene. I think i cant use a hard light for this(only the face and some part of the room is lit). Here are two videos I will like to imitate their looks. One is shot with an iPhone, the other shot with a DSLR. The iphone shot seem ridiculous to me. A device with a tiny sensor yet with an appealing result

 

 

Edited March 28, 2014 by John1

[John1]

I think it is called "Film Noir" not really sure.

[Anthony J DeRose]

I would say its film noir. To create that look you want a low-key style, i.e a lot of shadow in the frame. Film noir implements a lot of hard point sources to create such a look. Orson Well's film Touch of Evil is a great example of noir lighting.

[Peter Campbell]

Judging by the look of the clips you posted, it looks like you are trying to shoot something in a film-noir-type style. Film noir describes a genre of films common in America during the 1950s and early '60s, that often featured stories of conflicts and mystery in modern cities. Here's a link to a basic introduction to film noir:

 

http://www.cindytsutsumi.com/wp-content/downloads/words/Film_Hist_40s_FilmNoir/fn/fn_c.html

 

The cinematographic style of film noir is characterized by a deep contrast between light and dark. In order to shoot this way, you first need to start with a dark setting. The scene you are shooting should ideally take place at night or in a closed off room so that your setup is not invaded by sunlight, which would ruin the effect. When adding lights to the scene, use them to emphasize important aspects of the characters and setting. For instance, you can make a villain look more creepy by lighting him from above, such that his eyes are in complete shadow. This would make him seem more mysterious and less human. You can do the opposite for your hero, by setting a light that accentuates his eyes. When lighting the actors, always make sure that they are at least partly in shadow. In order to help the audience see your actor more clearly, you might want to place a light behind him, so that he is outlined by a sort of glowing edge. By outlining your actors this way, they appear more solid, but don't make it too bright or they will start looking like cardboard cutouts. Another way to outline the actors even when they are in shadow is to gently illuminate the background, such that the shadowy bits of the actor stand out. Never light the actors head-on, and always make sure that your lights are at some kind of angle. Lastly, (though many film noir cinematographers tended to ignore this) be sure to remember that all of the lighting needs to have some kind of logical source in the environment. The audience needs to have some understanding of where the light is coming from, and if none is provided your entire setup will look staged and unnatural. Hopefully, these tips will help you light your scene.