lighting help for a church

[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks again John,

Ok, i did think the truss was overkill at the time, it looked like something used for massive lighting events. I will enquire about the speedrail (is it basically just a long metal pole? Does it have any attachments etc?). Sorry for my ignorance on the subject, but it seems that some places i have been to aren’t equipped with the stuff mentioned on here..if i can get my hands on that and stay with the original plan of hanging 3 or 4 lights evenly on the speedrail i will do it that way.
If not, what you recommended (Like a 2k baby junior with thin diffusion like Opal on one side) is this the actual name of the light? Is it similar to a fresnel light etc?

Thanks again for your continued help,
Nick.

[John Sharaf]

Nick,

Yeah, a 2000 watt fresnel. The speedrail is just as you say, a pipe made of aluminum so that it’s lightweight. Whatever vendor you find that sells or rents it will also have the fittings. To hang the lights you’ll want pipe clamps with baby spuds. You’re best off sourcing all this stuff (with the high roller stands and sandbags) from a grip lighting vendor. I don’t know where you live but you could check Mandy.com to find the closest one.

JS

[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks again John,

Living in Melbourne, Australia so im guessing probably not too close to you..checked the mandy.com however and found one place that i hadn’t yet seen that may be applicable.

Looking through their catalogue though i can’t see speedrail anywhere and am wondering if its just called something different etc here??
Does it have any other names?

[John Sharaf]

Nick,

Even though it’s not listed in their catalog, it’s a standard rigging accessory. It’s often used to make large framesets for silks and solids, just describe what you have in mind and they’ll come up with something. You can also use 2×4″ lumber, c-clamped together, but it just doesn’t look as elegant.

JS

[Dennis Size]

Just ask for a 4 meter lighting boom with a 50 pound base (or whatever metric equivalent they stock). They will most assuredly have it…and know what you’re asking for. You can speedrail to it…but I would recommend 1 1/2″ Schedule 40 steel pipe. Cheseboro (pipe clamp) a one meter pipe to it as a crosspiece of whatever length you want and hang your lights from it.
Live large and get two booms and connect them with another 4 meter schedule 40 pipe or speedrail (aluminum conduit)…forming the goalpost that John was telling you to set up way back in the beginnning of this thread.

Get some sandbags for your bases to be safe and make the job even heavier.

DS

[Michael Palmer]

“So setting the 2k fresnel up as high as possible from a corner and directing it just off center from the opposite side of where the light stand is, then fill if needed with the redhead from the other side.. ”
Yes

“And yeah wouldn’t be easy to light behind the choir, but should be room to direct a light straight up behind them on the back wall to seperate the choir from the background.. ”
You may not need to light this wall, you be the judge of this. Some like to separate their subject with a rimlight/backlight and some like half lit highlights on walls.

“For tighter work as you mentioned, are you saying move the fresnel around to the side more because the light might be too harsh for close camera shots? ”
No, I’m saying I would move it back around for a more dramatic look for the performance. A fresnel IMO is kind enough to use as a key light for a wide shot at this distance, If you have the time to adjust the light for tighter work try this and see if it works for you. If you do have the time you may like the fresnel raw as you have first set it or you may like it a little softer by adding some diffusion. Some like to protect the subjects faces from reflective light and some like what you describe as a harsh look. You decide if what works best for the project. I believe less light helps drive a dramatic atmosphere so don’t be afraid to turn lights off for tight work.

Good Luck
Michael Palmer

[Nicholas Canavan]

Hi guys,
John, Dennis, Michael and anyone who gave input on helping me, just wanted to say thank you for your help.

The church choir that i filmed was done the other day, and i was quite happy with how it turned out. I did a few quick interviews afterward too which were good too.

Just wanted to give a big thanks to each of you guys for your help. It was invaluable the advice that you gave.

I notice more and more in my filming experiences (especially for the doco im shooting) is that the practicality of things/events/people often trumps technical aspects. I found myself rushing to not waste peoples time who waited to be interviewed etc, compromised somewhat on my power (electricity) needs for the sake of musicians/ other people involved etc etc.

I guess i’m just saying that there are so many elements to trying to make decent movies of any sort, and alot of experience to get things as right as they can be.

Thanks again guys for the help.

Nick.