Achieving the right light for a movie set is always tricky, but never more so than when shooting a night scene. You need enough light that your audience can see the characters and scenery, but not so much that they are confused about what time of day it is, or where all those bright lights are coming from in the middle of the night. Three-point lighting is the most common way to light your set, especially once the sun goes down.
Instructions
1. Survey the area you wish to film. Determine exactly what needs to be visible in the scene. This will include the background, foreground, and any people or props that you want to include in the shot. Make a list so you can check through it once everything is set up and you are about to start filming.
2. Set up a key light. As the name says, the key light is the most important light for the shot. It illuminates the key subject--usually an actor. Decide on a source for the light--this is where your audience will think light is naturally coming from. Examples could include the moon, streetlights, car headlights or a fire. The source determines where to place the key light. You can decide whether to position it high or low, and which direction it should come from.
3. Set up a fill light. The fill light illuminates everything else, such as the background or foreground. Place the fill light on the opposite side of the key light, having it match the height of the camera. Depending on what you are filming, this may require multiple lights. Take some time to experiment. Remember, anything that is suppose to be far away should still appear dark. This helps keep the scene looking like night time. Check the fill light to make sure it is consistent with the same source as the key light.
4. Set up a diffuser with the fill light. A diffuser is a piece of a equipment used to spread and soften the light. You can make your own diffuser by clipping the fill light inside of a white umbrella, and having the inside of the umbrella face your scene.
5. Set up the back light. The back light will make your subject stand out from the background. It will ensure a 3D effect. Position the back light behind the subject, with the light shining towards the camera, while lighting the subject's back.
6. Check the camera to make sure no equipment is in view. Does everything look the way you want it? You might need to make adjustments before getting it right. Remember to check your list of everything you wanted visible. If any small objects or areas are still too dark, use a reflector to shine some extra light that way.
Tags: fill light, back light, background foreground, coming from, light diffuser, light make