I'm a newbie at lighting, and I'm wondering how much additional light (if any) I'll need while shooting a
campfire scene at night. I'll be shooting with the DVX100 - any additional tips concerning camera settings would be helpful as well. Keep in mind that this campfire will be BIG!

Well since it is a night my suggestiopn would be this. First get a nice fire going. This should give a nice natural fill to your actors faces. If it not quite strong enough use bounce boards to get a little more light there way but when reflecting fire this can be brutal so use it sparringly.

Since you dont want a flat image do something with an edge light and the background. Buying a halogen wok lamp at homedepot would be a good idea. It will register white on video. If you can get some light blue gels to put over it (You will have to double them over a few times to notice the bluie but darker blue gels are too blue so stick with light blue if possible) This will give it that "night" look normally created with a HMI. Use the light to illuminate your background a little. A tree, a bush, whatever. You can creae an edge by pointing said light (or idealy another light) at your actor from behind them and to the side.

You can learn more about lighting at this link http://www.jamesarnett.com/lighting.html Very cool 3-D example of what effect lights have from different positions. You can also buy a halogen bulb and a domed clamp lamp style work lamp that you can put a gel on and use just to create an edge light on your actors. You only need one or two lights because when you go to shoot the other actors you need only move the lights behind them in the same fashion. Hope this helps and good luck.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer

the problem with using the fire to light up your actors is that you'll lose all texture of the fire (it most certaintly will burn out). I would suggest using some more of those construction lights Tizzy was reffering to, and to gel them orange. Then use something in front of them to give it the variable flicker of a fire. (I've seen this done with good effect using a circular scrim (with some areas double-up, and some empty) on a modified household fan.

good luck

yeah, if you use the fire as the key light, either you won't be able to see the actors or the fire will be overexposed. Video doesn't have the latitude. Then, in addition to you're "campfire" key lights, use a cooler back/top light to add demension. Then definately light some background element like Tizzy said.

GL
joren

I would recommend bringing a light meter for the sake of consistancy. Fire exposure can vary wildly over the length of a shoot (Depending on size). Unless you have to see the whole fire in frame I would typically opt to feign the light with a couple of tungstens on squeezers (Or, preferably variacs if you have them). Maybe gel them different warm colors for greater variation. I would tend to agree with Tizzy on moon motivated edge light or kicker, but do what works for the script. Color temperture is relative and flames tend to register very low on the scale, so a very light blue should do you fine.

The most important thing is SAFETY! Film sets can be dangerous enough without flames to worry about, so be prudent and don't rush anything.

Nota "Has sustained his fair share of injuries over the years" Mono

My bad. For whatever reason I assumed the flames would not be in frame, but if they are they will blow out.

Good point by Rob as well. Fires die down or flare up dependent upon what you do with them. Over time they can change greatly and so will your light levels.

My version was low guerilla style but if you can get some of the afore mentioned lighting tools go for it. With lighting control is a very good thing.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer

Thanks guys for all the advice.

Now, I'm off to Home Depot...

- Jon