Magic Lighting Effect

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

>>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

Silver Mylar?

Jordan Cushing
London DOP

>>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

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