Silk for exterior interview

[Craig Alan]

How about something like this. I’ve used these and with some careful positioning of camera/talent you still get a natural look and talent is very comfortable. Fairly easy set up. safe and secure. You can use a reflector as a fill.

https://www.caravancanopy.com/classic.php

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Bill Davis]

I own about 3 of these. (remnant of my work with non-profits where we raise money by hosting events.

These “pop-ups” are very useful for a lot of things. And there’s no reason you couldn’t use the frame and custom-sew a diffusion material substitute for the generally opaque canopy they come with. (A surplus white parachute would probably be perfect!) But of course that’s also purpose-designed to catch WIND!

The biggest drawback with “pop-ups” is that they’re universally HEAVY, especially the ones built to last. (there are cheap ones at every home store, but their legs and even more, their “scissor braces” are prone to buckling and breaking.

The more robust (and expensive ones) avoid that problem, but they’re really too heavy for a one person operation. Two people who are experienced can do fine. And if you can get four people involved (one per leg) then they become really easy to deploy and strike.

So it’s a useful tool. But not an ideal one, IMO.

FWIW.

“Before speaking out ask yourself whether your words are true, whether they are respectful and whether they are needed in our civil discussions.”-Justice O’Connor

[Craig Alan]

I agree with everything you just said. I can set mine up with two people, pretty easy. It’s fairly sturdy and not too heavy. It’s survived a few set ups but I haven’t used it extensively. Noon can have very harsh intense light and heat and I think talent will be more relaxed under shelter. That said you still need to throw diffused light on their faces .

OSX 10.5.8; MacBookPro4,1 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[David Braman]

Here’s an alternative to a silk. Try flying a double. It won’t soften the shadows, but it will knock them down a stop…enough to open them up. You can probably even get away with a big bounce for fill. No it’s not the same look, but it solves the contrast issue…AND the net is not subject to the same “fly-with-the-wind” dangers of a silk.