Propane Flame Bar used as light source?

[Michael Totten]

Has anyone used this technique ? Obviously all safety precautions taken...

Clearly there are many other realistic ways to mimic firelight, but nothing looks as much like firelight as firelight itself. In the interest of saving time and getting a guaranteed firelight look with no tinkering using a flame bar *seems* like it could be a very simple and effective solution, I think.

The scene takes place in front of a fireplace but at one point talent steps away (distance can't be cheated in this instance) - so I'm thinking a small flame bar brought would carry the natural firelight to them.

Any thoughts on this technique? Once again- safety number 1 priority.

 

[Matt W.]

I think they did this a fair amount in shutter Island. You might want to check out the ASC article on it.

I did a bit of lighting with burning isopropyl alcohol. It wasn't really bright enough and I had to use a ton of it and keep refueling. The look is great, though, but even warmer than you might expect. A flame bar is a much better idea.

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

ROSCO X24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOzI2RznCX8&feature=plcp

Controllable.
No Flames
Plenty of other applications

 

[Dominik Muench]

we used a propane flame bar the other day on a TVC, the bar itself was pretty short, only around 40cm long but the results looked fantastic...however the light from the fire alone wasn't enough to give a decent exposure.

 

[Eric Haase]

I used flame bars as campfire - first in the wide shots lighting the scene and then for some closeups in the scene. Heat shield is your friend. But sometimes you want control of the fire flicker, for dramatic or aesthetic reasons and it's easy enough to simulate with some gel and a magic gadget flicker box.