Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Tricky Scene

J

Jason Joseph

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
107
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Singapore
Hey all

I've got a bit of a challenging scene to shoot. Attached is a recce photograph. As you can see theres a huge very reflective window with a pretty nice view of a skyline on the outside. The scene is supposed to look like a classy lounge/pub. I would like the look to be something like the shot of matt damon also attached.

Question is how do we shoot on this side of the bar without being caught in the reflection of the window. and likewise how do we place lights on this side without them being in the reflection?

Once again thanks in advance your help is much appreciated

jason
 

Attachments

  • DSCF0889.jpg
    DSCF0889.jpg
    102.1 KB · Views: 0
  • The_Bourne_Ultimatum_305.jpg
    The_Bourne_Ultimatum_305.jpg
    33.3 KB · Views: 0
I would like the final look to be kinda like this famous scene from Lost in Translation, of course the window in this shot is far way
 

Attachments

  • Lost_in_Translation_169b.jpg
    Lost_in_Translation_169b.jpg
    34.9 KB · Views: 0
Be prepared to spend quite a long time tweaking the lights, had a similar scene to shoot once:

Don't use too many/powerful lights, the less light would give you the less noticeable reflections in the window. Also make sure you have a lot of flags, its a white room so flag as much as you can off the walls. You'd also get a little off the walls if your lights were more spot rather than flood.

If you still have noticeable reflections in the window of the crew,behind the scenes, etc., see what a polarizer would do if any; and hide the rest of the crew behind black flags/blanket with only the camera sticking out so light hitting the crew/behind the scenes wouldn't be noticeable in the window (this saved me quite a few times in the past)

Hope this made sense, good luck!
 
Build a duvetyne wall just in front of the camera, cut a hole to stick the lens through. Kino flo overhead with egg crates and flags if barndoors are not enough to mask reflection off of the window.
 
Just a question of an amateur: would putting in a greenscreen into that window and filming foreground and background seperatly not save time and money?
 
i think the talents would be too close to the green and i was hoping to keep the look natural. plus some shots might be handheld. thanks for suggestion though.
 
Felix Knöchel said:
Just a question of an amateur: would putting in a greenscreen into that window and filming foreground and background seperatly not save time and money?
Click to expand...


To me, I'd feel a lot more satisfied figuring it out for myself than taking the easy way out by using a green screen. Much more rewarding. :gun:
 
Heres my tentative lighting plan for the talents there will be some pracs to light the environment. theres a blank one too just incase any of you helpful guys were feeling like having a go.

thanks again in advance, reduser is really becoming more a community of like minds rather than a resource for a wonderful camera.
 

Attachments

  • lightingplan1.jpg
    lightingplan1.jpg
    45 KB · Views: 0
  • lightingplan2.jpg
    lightingplan2.jpg
    37.4 KB · Views: 0
The kino as a backlight will light them from behind and therefor give you light on them for reflections in the window. If you want that, no problem. I wouldn't make it to strong though, since it will IMO look unnatural with a to strong reflection. Also make sure that no light is spilling over on you were you are. Wrap you and camera with dark material.

If you want it to look exactly as the 2 references you posted. I would leave the backlight for a rainy day, since those two doesn't have any.
 
Thanks for the tip fredrik, we'll keep the kino on standby. any tips on how to achieve that Matt Damon look, mixed colour temp?
 
green screen could also be problemetic, you'll have to light that window evenly and brighter then the rest of the subjects for a clean key, master wides would be tough. and then u gotta make sure all ward drobe and etc. aren't wearing anything green, etc. etc. green screen isn't as easy of a solution as most ppl think it is...
 
I don't think green screen is an effective solution for such a situation. The whole dynamics of light interacting with the inside of outside is difficult to emulate with a green screen and x number of enhancements. That is why for Children of Men Cuaron & Co. built an entire moving camera rig (which held the entire car) rather than simply doing it in the studio with greenscreen, which is seemingly much easier, cheaper and more efficient. This is for the famous car scene, by the way.

PL filter is probably the best way. You can make sure the window is back enough, shoot with a shallow dof, and don't light from the front. A little bit of adjustment with the angles will make it work, I am sure.
 
wow that anti reflective film sounds interesting. will see if anyone here has it. thanks
 
Felix Knöchel said:
Just a question of an amateur: would putting in a greenscreen into that window and filming foreground and background seperatly not save time and money?
Click to expand...
Another amateur suggestion ... can you open the window ... remove the glass? Place a photo in the window?
 
no the window is stuck on and the view is one of the reasons we're shooting at this location. its a landmark in singapore and gives the video a sense of geography.

thanks for the link digitalfx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top