Indie filmmakers typically don’t have deep pockets, which is why it’s so important to know how to light your scenes with as few lights as possible. This is for several reasons: lights are expensive, DoPs are expensive, and many times you’re not going to have a whole lot of time or space to work with either. That’s why finding a lighting solution that is as effective, unobtrusive, and inexpensive as possible is key. Sekonic’s Tony Corbell walks us through how to light 10 scenes using a single light source, a softbox.
Even though this tutorial is geared toward photography there is plenty for filmmakers to learn from each lighting setup. It shows you how to light for different effects and situations — silhouettes, beauty shots (good for close ups), and even how to use your light as a design element — all of which are easily transferable from photography to filmmaking.
However, keep in mind that the bigger the space your scene calls for, the more lights you’ll potentially need. Furthermore, if your subject is moving around a lot, your single softbox may not give you the look you’re going for. Also, these shots were captured in a studio, which means that the light was highly controlled. So, if you want to try and apply these setups in your films, make sure that other light sources, like windows, streetlights, etc., don’t contaminate your scene. Either use them or eliminate them.