[Dennis Size]

JOLLY: Where are you currently working?

DS

[Dennis Size]

Please list the width and height of your greenscreen walls.
You will need to hang your fixtures from the ceiling, about 3′-0″ away from the walls. My rough guess — without knowing exact dimensions of either your walls or your ceiling height — would be six 2 lamp x 4′-0″ Kino Flos (two lighting each wall)….. or three 2 lamp x 8′-0″ Kino Flos (one lighting each wall).
You could also get away with three 2 lamp x 2′-0″ Kino Flos on each wall. My preference is always to hang fewer instruments however.

This would be the correct way to go. If you choose not to purchase the rather expensive (but foolproof) Kinos there are many other choices, such as cyc lights, scoops, mini-10 wash lights, etc.

DS

[Dennis Size]

I believe you’ve misinterpreted what Craig was telling you.
You DO want the children facing the windows. You’ll be using nature’s available light to your advantage. You do NOT want to shoot into the exterior.
You have better control shooting into the walls of the classroom.
You must survey the site, determine what the daylight conditions are during the time you’ll be shooting. THEN plan accordingly.
DS

[Dennis Size]

Determine what background makes the best “statement” about what your message is …. then use it.
If it doesn’t look good, or you feel it’s distracting, use something better.
Be advised — before you waste a lot of money on textured background. You will need to light your background separately from your foreground, to accent the texture. The Kino-flos will wash out and flatten any texture your background has.

DS

[Dennis Size]

John has given you the best advice you could ask for (as always).
The only thing I would add — if it were easy, and the windows were accessable from the outside — would be to net the windows to “take down” the instensity of the exterior.
You could either rent a cheap black net or scrim from a theatrical company and tie it off at the roof, hanging outside the windows, or (if you’re on the first floor) tape simple black bobbinette from your local fabric store over the outside of the windows.

DS

[Dennis Size]

Look at the “catch lights” in the eyes, and the shadows on the neck and shoulders. It would be easy to determine the lighting plot.
However, I wouldn’t try to duplicate this set-up ….especially the lighting on the anchorman. It’s not that good.

DS

[Dennis Size]

1) find more money

2) buy either the ARRI #571991 SOFTBANK IV Kit; or
the ARRI #571963 SOFTBANK D4 Kit

Can’t find the money?

3) Study the kits and their contents … assemble the fixtures “pre-owned” from the various used lighting equipment outlets

DS

[Dennis Size]

An 8′-0″ x 8′-0″ greenscreen should be fine for single person chromakey work, as long as you don’t need a full body shot.
You can have the fabric made to any size you want — with pipe pockets — at ROSEBRAND in New York City.

DS

[Dennis Size]

Go with the spot version — and add diffusion (such as opal or directional silk) as needed to “flood” the beam.
Unless you’re working very close, the flood version won’t be bright enough.

DS

[Dennis Size]

Rosco makes some great annimation effects accessories for Source 4 lekos that’ll do the trick.
You cold also use a simple gobo rotator, in conjunction with a stationary gobo.
My personal favorite is either a PANI Projector with a rain effects loop or a GAM Great American Scene Machine with a rain loop (or disc).

DS