Isabelle Landers

I have been reading about the new Arri L-Series LED Fresnel lights at http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/emailnewsletter_generators.html#anchorHigh%20Output%20AC%20LEDs. Has anyone had the opportunity to try them yet? If so, are they everything they are cracked up to be in the demo video? Isabelle Landers, Gaffer, Nashua, NH

Thanks everyone for you helpful suggestions. I think I will take Guy's advice and hold out for a 1200W Par with a compact magnetic ballast. Isabelle Landers, Gaffer, Nashua, NH

I searched ebay under "dry transformer" as you suggested. Even though I got a lot of returns, none of them fit Guy's description of an epoxy encapsulated K-rated 240:127 boost transformer. From what I understand from the websites I have read (including the link you provided) that particular configuration 240:127, verses the standard 240:120 configuration, is custom just like John says in his post. Apparently there is something to what Guy says in his post about motion picture production requiring a custom configuration. Isabelle Landers, Gaffer, Nashua, NH

I want to buy a HMI, but don't know what to look for. I can only afford to spend about $2000.00 ($3000.00 max), but don't want to buy a Chinese knock off. There are a number of used lights on ebay, but I am not certain which would be best for me. I shoot mostly indie shorts, so it is important that I be able to plug it into the wall or run it off a portable generator. From what I have seen on ebay, it seems like the most powerful light that I can afford is a 1200W. But, I am uncertain if I should get a fresnel or par light, with a magnetic or electronic ballast. I have listed a number of the options below. Arri Par Plus w/ Electronic ballast (out of my price range unless the seller comes off their asking price) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...T#ht_500wt_1182 Desisti 1200 Fresnel w/ mag ballast http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...T#ht_500wt_1182 LTM 1200 Par w/mag ballast http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...T#ht_500wt_1182 Arri 1200 Fresnel w/Mag ballast http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...T#ht_760wt_1167 Strand 1200 Par w/ mag ballast http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...atchlink:top:en I would appreciate any input on these lights and guidance in general. Thanks, Isabelle Landers, Gaffer

This post gives me an idea. I love the quality of Helium balloon lights but they are too expensive for anything but a feature budget. To create a poor mans version of a helium balloon I have thought about using a large paper china lantern (48”) and the 200 Watt 8u CFL bulbs pictured below in the fixture pictured below. http://img.tradekey.com/images/uploadedima...70423031229.jpg http://www.inspironphoto.com/index.php?mai...mage&pID=51 With this fixture, I can cluster nine of the 200W CFL together and produce the tungsten equivalent of a 7650W Tungsten balloon. Since CFLs generate hardly any heat there is no fire hazard. The CFL bulbs will pull around 15 amps total so shouldn’t overload the fixture or a standard household circuit. For night exteriors I can lamp it with 5000K CFL bulbs and power it with a portable generator and still have enough power on the generator to run several small HMIs and as well. Does anyone see any reason this setup wouldn't work? - Isabelle Landers, Gaffer, Nashua, NH

A 4k to balance the windows will hold detail outside, but the problem I have is that the sun keeps moving. I do a lot of dramatic shorts with scenes that take all day to shoot and sometimes the shots don't cut together if they were filmed too far apart because the light was constantly changing inside. Any suggestions how I can maintain a consistent natural look throughout the day so that the footage will cut together without having to rent a tow generator to power bigger lights. - Isabelle Landers, Gaffer, Nashua, NH

I am shooting a night scene on a back country road. We can't afford a movie blimped tow generator and I am afford a portable generator will be too loud. What are my options for powering HMIs and Kinos on batteries. I have looked at a number of different types of Inverters - from boat inverters to Dewalt construction inverters - but don't know which is right or what they can handle. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. - Isabelle Landers,

This is great information and very helpful. I recall a similar thread on CML not too long ago. But, I still don't understand how you are able to run so many lights off of a Honda 6500. How do you modify the generator and what is the point of the transformer you picture in the second production still? And, isn't generator noise going to be a problem if I use two generators? Isabelle Landers, Nashua, NH

I'm gaffing a low budget ($200'000) independent feature on the Red and I am looking for recommendations for a lighitng package that will give me the most versatility. We have about $10'000 to rent lights for a three week shoot. The locations don't have alot of available power (its a period film set on a farm - mostly around the barn at night) so we will need a generator. Besides a number of Night exteriors, we have a number of Day Exteriors, as well as Day interiors. My biggest concern is the night exteriors because I want to be able to light the woods surrounding the farm so that it doesn't appear to be in a black void but we won't have a truck capable of towing a generator. What's the largest portable gas generator available and whats the largest HMI that we can power off it that will also leave us power to run other lights as well. Where it is a period film set on a farm I am looking to mix cool moonlight with warm lamp light. My second biggest concern is being able to match lighting for the Day Exteriors. Where we are shooting in November in New Hampshire we have to match shots filmed on both sunny and overcast days. Given our budget, what combination of lights will give us the most versatility if we are limited to a single portable generator? Isabelle Landers, Nashua, New Hampshire