are some examples and some suggested lighting equipment.

Here is our setup so you can mimic it as best as possible with your gear.

Main Light – 1,000 watt medium soft box with eggcrate to control spill

Hair light – 300 watt with slight diffusion (thin rolux or the like) and a slight color gel (warm and opposite of the background or something that goes well with subject’s hair; doubled No-color Straw for example)

Fill –white side of a FlexiFill reflector

The main light should be soft but directional. The fill should be subtle. Controlled contrast is best. Do your best to keep the soft box out of glasses. Hair light should be noticeable but not overwhelming; subtle, not strong.

Background Light – usually a 650 watt with a color gel (cool colors like purple, blue or green or a neutral color but darker than the foreground)

The background color shouldn’t overpower the front light. Again, subtle is best. Soft shadows (from a cookie) are also good here if possible.

CAMERA and AUDIO

BetaSP or a 3 chip DV camera is acceptable. If you use a 3 chip DV camera please use two-track, 48Mhz audio instead of four track, 32 Mhz audio.

We shoot each response in both a close and medium shot. Do not zoom during take.

Audio should be done from either a lav or boom mic just outside of camera range. Preferably, one audio track would be the properly adjusted level and the other would be –10 db below that for safety.