Christmas Lights That Don't Flicker

[Garrett Schwindt]

I am planning a one-shot short film that takes place at one house during nighttime with interior and exterior filming. I'm placing the film during Christmastime as a way to motivate the lighting.

As we all know, many modern LED Christmas lights flicker on digital sensors. While there is software and shutter tricks to get around this, the sheer amount I am planning to use, the camera movement, as well as not wanting to affect motion blur by changing shutter angle, I'm wondering what my best options are. In general, I am looking to use retro style bulbs, such as Noma red/orange/green/blue big bulb lights, as well as amber candelabras, and bubble lights.

I've gone down the eBay rabbit hole of finding authentic retro incandescent bulbs, but the hassle of sourcing these and praying they work the whole shoot worries me. If I go the LED route, I would also have the problem of testing each brand to see if they flicker. Are there go to brands of Christmas LED lights that gaffers/DP's always get to avoid this flicker problem, or are there just way too many out there to really know without testing individual brands?

I really would like to avoid LED's, but the reality of the situation is they will be the easiest to source. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated! I am shooting with a Red Epic Dragon DSMC1 camera by the way. Thanks!

 

[Zack Birlew]

I think your best bet is going to be using regular old school tungsten Christmas lights to get that Christmas look. You can string them up around the set, bunch them up to be a general soft light, dangle across C-stands, or even wrap around the mattebox or front of the camera. We lit a lot of my short film, "The Christmas Valentine" this way because, at the time, I knew Christmas lights worked best for getting that look and were simply easier to use and get my hands on as a student. I'll attach a link to the short and we used mini bulbs by the way, the bigger bulbs would be too sensitive for breaking and get too hot!

Although, if you're really stuck on LED,I haven't done too much testing with them to test for flicker but I did buy a box or two of the Feit Electric programmable big bulb LED string lights that typically show up at Costco during the summer and fall seasons, they're a little pricy but they will definitely put out some warm light. Remember, you're going to be fighting between yellow light or orange light with this look and it will most likely require just testing different LED bulbs until you find the one that works for you.

 

[Sergio Perez]

I think you could go for a nanlite led strip and try to use it as Christmas lights?

 

[Garrett Schwindt]

Thanks for the suggestions guys... Oh to go back to 2008 this problem would not be so difficult! Haha. I also distinctly remember using soft amber tungsten bulbs poked through a pizza box bounce to light things with great effect.

While nanlite LED strips may come into handy in more hidden locations, I really want these lights to play to camera, hence the desire to go towards the retro bulb look with the correct colors and spacing. I also have a 8kit of Titan Tubes I'll hide strategically off screen to enhance where need be the colored effect, but for the most part I want the Christmas lights to light the set only.

This will also be a horror film, so dark is the goal, and I'll have a mixture of hard light from practicals and outside light coming in. It'll be shot Birdman/1917 style, allowing for some lighting change ups, but the goal is to use Christmas lights to define the space, and hard light to give the mood.

I've even looked into local Christmas light installer services, and nearly all have moved towards LED's. Some videos posted on their websites for marketing materials even show the flicker. But, I may be able to go test their lighting at their warehouses before committing to avoid the process of buying and sending back brand after brand of lights.

EDIT

Just found this great company, in my area as well, who still sells incandescent bulbs by the bulk. I guess if you google something enough times you'll start getting targeted ads!

https://www.1000bulbs.com/fil/categories/christmas-lights

 

[Tom S]

Sometimes I garbage matte the Christmas tree and use a single frame if a locked down shot.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Would it be possible to run the LEDs off 12V DC? Not sure if that's even viable.