class="style18"> Magic Lighting Effect

>Published : 26th November 2008

>I have a shoot coming up that has a cg ghostly type of vapour swirling around an actor. The director is talking about getting a water reflective type quality on their skin and clothes.

>At the moment I'm thinking of lighting broken mirrors etc in a small amount of water on the floor.

>Any ideas appreciated.

Simon Ozolins

Australian DP

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class="style19">>>The director is talking about getting a water reflective type quality on their skin and clothes.

>You might have good luck with a "water effects" lighting unit. These would have a great deal more control. They project a beam that looks (in some cases) remarkably like water reflections, and you can change the speed, and the colour, of the moving pattern.

>I can't find the one I've seen in use right at the moment, but a quick Google revealed the following examples:

>http://www.epartyunlimited.com/visual-effects-aquasplash-deluxe-v-9970dlx.html

>http://www.soundmastersdirect.co.uk/8/221/index.htm

>http://www.chauvetlighting.com/fixtures/abyss2_fix.shtml

>http://www.effectlighting.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1163

>You might find one of these to rent at a theatrical supply house, or a DJ or dance party (do rave supply rentals exist?) place.

>Just my two cents.

>Phil Badger
gaffer, Los Angeles
http://home.earthlink.net/~badger111/index.html
http://www.philbadgergaffer.blogspot.com

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>Silver Mylar?

>Jordan Cushing
London DOP

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class="style19">>>At the moment I'm thinking of lighting broken mirrors etc in a small amount of water on the floor.
>>Any ideas appreciated.

>You could do the mirror in the tub set up where you put a hard surface mirror in the bottom of the pan of water and hit it with a hard light, then put the reflection where you want it.

>I've done hand held versions of this with small pans of water as well. The basic formula can be seasoned to taste in many ways.

>Mark Smith DP NYC

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>Hi There

>You could also try bouncing a hard source off a sheet of gel hung free from a gobo arm or something similar - ND is a good choice as you don't get colour - gently tapping the arm to shake the gel will give you a nice rippling effect. Or you could scrunch up a big sheet of hard silver or gold and do something similar.

>Cheers and good luck

>Alex Ryle
DP/London

 

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