Steve E Turner Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 First post! I've been a guest a long time and thought I'd jump in as a member. It's strange how many of you I feel like I know on a personal level. Anyway, I'm prepping for a feature that includes a climatic night scene in a vineyard and would welcome anyone's two cents. There are a few vineyard scenes earlier in the film that take place during the day so worrying about orientation shouldn't be a problem. But, truly, except for the moon, it is pitch black secluded – no streetlights, farmhouses … nothing to frame against. (Try and imagine a hilltop forest with about ten to fifteen acres cleared for the vineyard.) The thing is does have, though, is a small work shed/barn at the top of the hill with a 20 amp power supply. I can't count on a condor or any big lights (lighting up those rows bathed in moonlight would be spectacular), so my plan is to use a 2k mounted on the shed as though it was a security light. From the angle of the shed I'll let the actors run into the vineyard and quickly disappear. For the reverse on the actors hiding in the vineyard I will cheat the 2k – since all the rows are the same and all we'll see is the actor's silhouette with a readable ¼ blue fill. With the 90 degree or three quarter shots of the actors crouching down the rows, I'll just stay somewhat close and cheat the 2k as needed with a vinealorus (sp?) key and the ¼ fill. What do you think? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 A 2k won't give you jack. This is a feature right? What format are you shooting Steve? Can't they get you a 20K? a 10K? a 5K?... something you can actually use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Tyler Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 If you can't get bigger lights, consider renting a bunch of small Honda generators and using them to light the background. There's always day-for-night too :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve E Turner Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 We'll see what happens, but the budget is extemely small and I'm trying to figure it out as is. To really light the vineyard with the moon you'd have to bring out the big guns and I just don't see that happening. The other option floating around is doing the scene at sunset/magic hour, (which I'd like to do) but it's a long scene and we won't have the days. A little more detail about the scene: It's a shootout, for lack of a better word, and the sense of confusion and not knowing where anyone is will work. The 2k will be about 12 ft off the ground and is really just to get the actors into the vineyard. Once they're in, it'll all be silhouettes, closeups, sudden appearance and disappearances, quick shots of someone running here, a dive to the ground there. The idea of hiding a few lights around the vineyard has been thought about, but it just doesn't make sense for the location or story. Though maybe a single light at the other end of the vineyard (as another "security light") might work, and give some depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Wells Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Can you smoke it ? Fog'll give you some motivated spread in the lighting. You can justify some "fill" -Sam The idea of hiding a few lights around the vineyard has been thought about, but it just doesn't make sense for the location or story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Can you smoke it ? Sam.. vineyards produce wine for 'drinking'... Amsterdam has what you are after.... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve E Turner Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 I think what we'll do is split the difference. We'll start the scene off just past magic hour where the sky will still be visible over the dark treeline. It should give the scene a certain depth that's needed and get us into the vineyard -- where the blackness will give it a sense of confusion and doom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Wells Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Sam.. vineyards produce wine for 'drinking'... Amsterdam has what you are after.... :P Oops, I thought this was the Lighting Up Forum, my bad....... -Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Oops, I thought this was the Lighting Up Forum, my bad....... -Sam :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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