Great breakdown! Would have loved to see what it looked like with just the moonbox, as it seems mostly overpowered by the faked streetlight. Seems a little bit like you gave the DP great options, which they then didn't make the greatest use of... but that's commercials for you. The indie film version of that scene would have been lit a lot less I feel.
Read my mind a bit. Would be interesting to see what simply stemming up that "street light", angling down, and adding a topper / teaser on it to create a little falloff would have done for a more natural vibe. Overall, better work than I'd accomplish most likely. ha. Great vid and great info in it.
So so great that you are doing this! Someone was just on Facebook saying that they were a 'new' gaffer and stating that they knew absolutely nothing about electricity and where could they find videos that would explain things. Of course I sent them your way. That was 25 minutes after their post where hundreds of people slammed them for being a gaffer with no experience with electricity. It was taken down as I was suggesting your videos so I sent a DM... Keep up the great work! I think I will just watch a few to see my old friends if nothing else!
Your BTS videos help this (mostly) natural light, run-and-gun filmmaker get a sense of the mechanics and equipment involved with a more fully budgeted shoot. Thank you. At the same time, I wasn’t convinced by the color temp chosen (not your call I realize). The “moon” light feels too bright, too white, and too nondirectional (a full or near-full moon casts more shadow) to sell the sense of moonlight. It feels more like low-intensity stadium lighting, as if the kids are playing soccer, not in a front yard, but at the local high school.
Yup, lots of different choices could have been made. This approach worked for our purposes give the time, crew, budget, and shots we needed to capture. Good feedback!
interesting to see your gear shift, didn't hear a single sky panel listed. there wasn't quite the color temp clash of moonlight and streelamps I'd expect.
Hi Luke, I want you to know that your channel and Andrew Lock's channel are my favorites. I love that you take the time to answer questions on your channel. I try to only ask questions that I can't find the answers to somewhere else. Let's say I am building a 8x8x4' box to create top light for a God Father look. I want to light it with 3 Aputure Nova p600c's. I can build the box with 1-1/2" SpeedRail and Modern Studio Equipment fittings. For the diffusion, (Magic Cloth), and Eggcrate on the bottom of the box, I can buy them from TRP, (The Rag Place). What I can't figure out is how to cover the sides of the box with material. I would like to stock both a Magic Cloth and a Duventyne material for the sides so I can use either one depending on the use case. What should I buy and where can I get it?? Thanks for your time. Mathew
Hi Matthew, Honeycrates makes this very thing: they call it a Beehive and it comes in regular sizes like 8x8. honeycrates.com/collections/beehives The wrap around style Honeycrates Light Control Device (LCD) has the added benefit of closing up the edges of all the sides of the diffusion so there’s no light leak. Normally the Beehive is built around square tube, but if you discuss it with them it can probably be made to work with pipe as well. You can also use that same Beehive box on stands or on a goalpost and orient it vertically or horizontally, not just as a top light. DoP Choice is working on a pop-up version of larger boxes, so that’s another vendor to look into. Both products are well made and built to last, so you’re paying for quality and re-usability.
@@meetthegaffer m.ua-cam.com/video/qiUVOjjrFRk/v-deo.html Hi Luke, I found this video which is what you were talking about. They do 3 setups: the Gravity Setup, the Rigid Setup, and the Honey Sticks setup. I like the Honey Sticks setup because it is basically an 8'x8'x2' Softbox with Wheeled Stands and a Grid! Enjoy! Mathew
@@meetthegaffer m.ua-cam.com/video/Vigx-Rqvk68/v-deo.html In this video they build a 12x12x4 Bee Hive using the gravity configuration. If I wanted to use the rigid configuration would I build it out of 1-1/2" SpeedRail or 1" Square Tubing? How would I mount (4) Aputure NOVA p600c's? Lastly, where do I buy the Rope and Pulley's? Neither Modern Studio Eq nor Matthews Studio Eq carries Pulley's. I am assuming that they mounted (4) Pulley's using 2' pieces of SpeedRail and Speed C-Clamps. Thanks for your time. I know your time is valuable and I really appreciate you answering my questions. I am not doing big rigs yet but I have to be asking these questions so that as I buy gear, I buy the right gear! Thanks, Mathew
Love seeing what goes into creating the "smoke and mirrors" before "we actors" arrive on set. I'm not sure who works harder in the "prep" stages - actors or crew? All I know is that it's a "team effort" - It's always great to see you on set Luke!!!!
Another great video! Always the best when working with good friends on set. Would love to see your opinion on the lightpanel apollo bridge compared to something like the AKS transmitter. Had a good amount of work with the AKS, but not til recently have I started hearing about the apollo bridge.
Thanks for this breakdown! This may be a silly question but what if there were exterior scenes that needed audio? How would you work around the genny/what would be the discussion with the sound department? Also, I'm guessing you may opt for an alternate set-up, and would there be a scenario where you could do it without the genny?
You put the genny further away and run beefier cable to set. One idea would be to talk a home owner into renting their back yard, then you would at least have a house in between you and the sound maker🙂
Hi Luke, thanks for a great video. Would It have been possible to use house power for this shoot ? Using maybe a "tie-in" ? Not sure if that is the right expression (I'm in Europe) : when you plug your 32Amps or more cable directly into the owner main circuit.
Good question! Yes, we could have used only house power, but we would have had to get permission from all the neighbors and run a lot of long extension cords. Not impossible, but kind of a pain and potentially a hazard unless we had good cable crossovers. I tie-in could also have worked, but again, a lot of cable runs. However, it would certainly have been quieter!
@@meetthegaffer ok that’s what I thought😂. So if you did have sound from the production what would be your advice to minimize boom or lavs from picking up the generator
@@AnimeZone247 We would have put the generator further down the street and maybe baffled it a bit, and run some larger gauge wire distribution from the genny to the set where there would add break-out boxes where we could plug in.
I’m assuming they are auto select like an ARRI M18 ballast. But funny thing, I’m so used to plugging them into 110 I’ve never even thought about it! Just look on the control box and if it says something to the effect of 100-240V you should be good… which is exactly what is printed on the AC adapter for the Nanlux Evoke 1200😃.
@@meetthegaffer Still on the subject of juicing with 220 volts. My understanding is that these instruments are wired to work with one live, one neutral and one ground when using 120 volts. In my experience in the USA, we generate 220 -240 volts with 2 lives and a one ground. How did Alan source 220 volts to accommodate one live, one neutral, one ground? Are the generators single phase 220V ? Thanks.
On he Honda putt-putts there is a twist lock out put that will give you 220V. Alan adapts this to a regular Edison box, brightly labeled so there’s no mistaking that it is 220V, and the you can use a regular stinger, u-ground extension cord, to send 220 to the light. The only difference in a country that has 220V coming out of the wall is that you’d have different connectors, but most electronic units, unless labeled otherwise, can take either 120 or 220 quite seamlessly. You can’t do this with tungsten because the bulbs need to be configured differently to handle the different voltage.
Thank for sharing the breakdown. Honestly, this does looks more like a street light effect rather then moonlight in my opinion. However the crew did a big job and production spent...
I love these breakdown with set footage! Having said that, I feel like the scene feels a little too lit. Not really moonlight-ish and for a ambient street lamp situation it's also too soft I think.
In terms of cinematic considerations I would agree. But this clip definitely feels like an intentional choice. Creates the sense that the focus is on the positive message of safety and feels approachable. Compared to say a road safety ad campaign where they might want the darkness to feel more real.
@@cagf2013 Maybe. Although one could argue that in a darker setting the car's feature would be even more helpful as peoples eyesight get worse with less light. But hey... overall nicely done.
@@prottentogo yeah, agree with that - maybe a cooler color temp for the moonlight and a slightly darker grade might have sold the night time aspect without looking too threatening…
P.S.: The moon is a very small, harsh source of light. That was a giant softbox giving you light which looked nothing like moonlight. Again, I apologize if I'm coming across badly. But looking like a prick IS kinda my thing. You go with what you've given, right?
This was my first impression "misled" by the title moonbox. I like the light´s character, the houses, the street, probably the name moonbox may be not the perfect name for what it did? Again, very impressive, though Luke nearly said "M18" - gear is already changing, brain still needs some time ;-)
It's true that moonlight is a hard source. But for some reason, many people don't think it is. So if you put up a hard source, many times people think it feels fake. Name of the video aside, I think the box in the sky was to just create a general directionless ambient.
Not trying to be a prick, but I found the commerical over lit and very unnatural looking. Would have done it with a great high ISO camera and much less light (and crew... and equipment). You obviously had a nice budget. Seems like the look falls into the "because we can" category rather than "because we should".
Thank you for responding. Different aesthetic choices lead to different outcomes. One person’s white moon is another’s blue moon, soft through clouds or hard.
Night X with all LED. Boy am I old. I remember when the condor pilot had a hammock and a redhead for warmth.
Thank you Happy Spring 2022
Nice use of the Prolycht Orion 300 FS lights!
Thanks for your sharing ! Luke
Great breakdown! Would have loved to see what it looked like with just the moonbox, as it seems mostly overpowered by the faked streetlight. Seems a little bit like you gave the DP great options, which they then didn't make the greatest use of... but that's commercials for you. The indie film version of that scene would have been lit a lot less I feel.
Yes, the indie film version could have gone in a much stronger visual direction. It’s nice to have the tools to be ready.
Read my mind a bit. Would be interesting to see what simply stemming up that "street light", angling down, and adding a topper / teaser on it to create a little falloff would have done for a more natural vibe. Overall, better work than I'd accomplish most likely. ha. Great vid and great info in it.
So so great that you are doing this! Someone was just on Facebook saying that they were a 'new' gaffer and stating that they knew absolutely nothing about electricity and where could they find videos that would explain things. Of course I sent them your way. That was 25 minutes after their post where hundreds of people slammed them for being a gaffer with no experience with electricity. It was taken down as I was suggesting your videos so I sent a DM... Keep up the great work! I think I will just watch a few to see my old friends if nothing else!
I pointed them to Alan’s book. Seemed like a good place to start. We all start somewhere.
Your BTS videos help this (mostly) natural light, run-and-gun filmmaker get a sense of the mechanics and equipment involved with a more fully budgeted shoot. Thank you. At the same time, I wasn’t convinced by the color temp chosen (not your call I realize). The “moon” light feels too bright, too white, and too nondirectional (a full or near-full moon casts more shadow) to sell the sense of moonlight. It feels more like low-intensity stadium lighting, as if the kids are playing soccer, not in a front yard, but at the local high school.
Yup, lots of different choices could have been made. This approach worked for our purposes give the time, crew, budget, and shots we needed to capture. Good feedback!
Thanks for the breakdown Luke. Always appreciate the insight you bring.
Love this breakdown! Thank you for doing these!
Really nicely done videos with tons of great info.
Wow Luke! So this was all 100% LED? I just love that all you had to run up to the Moonbox was 2 stingers for the Nanlux dynos. Looked amazing!
Production has changed, right?🙂
interesting to see your gear shift, didn't hear a single sky panel listed.
there wasn't quite the color temp clash of moonlight and streelamps I'd expect.
True, we didn’t lean into traditional night time color hues re moon and street lights. Kinda nice for a change🙂
Fantastic Thank you !
Love this. Great video 😃
Hi Luke,
I want you to know that your channel and Andrew Lock's channel are my favorites. I love that you take the time to answer questions on your channel. I try to only ask questions that I can't find the answers to somewhere else.
Let's say I am building a 8x8x4' box to create top light for a God Father look. I want to light it with 3 Aputure Nova p600c's. I can build the box with 1-1/2" SpeedRail and Modern Studio Equipment fittings. For the diffusion, (Magic Cloth), and Eggcrate on the bottom of the box, I can buy them from TRP, (The Rag Place). What I can't figure out is how to cover the sides of the box with material. I would like to stock both a Magic Cloth and a Duventyne material for the sides so I can use either one depending on the use case. What should I buy and where can I get it??
Thanks for your time.
Mathew
Hi Matthew,
Honeycrates makes this very thing: they call it a Beehive and it comes in regular sizes like 8x8.
honeycrates.com/collections/beehives
The wrap around style Honeycrates Light Control Device (LCD) has the added benefit of closing up the edges of all the sides of the diffusion so there’s no light leak. Normally the Beehive is built around square tube, but if you discuss it with them it can probably be made to work with pipe as well. You can also use that same Beehive box on stands or on a goalpost and orient it vertically or horizontally, not just as a top light.
DoP Choice is working on a pop-up version of larger boxes, so that’s another vendor to look into. Both products are well made and built to last, so you’re paying for quality and re-usability.
@@meetthegaffer Thanks.
@@meetthegaffer m.ua-cam.com/video/qiUVOjjrFRk/v-deo.html
Hi Luke,
I found this video which is what you were talking about. They do 3 setups: the Gravity Setup, the Rigid Setup, and the Honey Sticks setup. I like the Honey Sticks setup because it is basically an 8'x8'x2' Softbox with Wheeled Stands and a Grid!
Enjoy!
Mathew
@@mathewcoulliette2233 Exactly!
@@meetthegaffer m.ua-cam.com/video/Vigx-Rqvk68/v-deo.html
In this video they build a 12x12x4 Bee Hive using the gravity configuration. If I wanted to use the rigid configuration would I build it out of 1-1/2" SpeedRail or 1" Square Tubing? How would I mount (4) Aputure NOVA p600c's? Lastly, where do I buy the Rope and Pulley's? Neither Modern Studio Eq nor Matthews Studio Eq carries Pulley's. I am assuming that they mounted (4) Pulley's using 2' pieces of SpeedRail and Speed C-Clamps.
Thanks for your time. I know your time is valuable and I really appreciate you answering my questions. I am not doing big rigs yet but I have to be asking these questions so that as I buy gear, I buy the right gear!
Thanks,
Mathew
Love seeing what goes into creating the "smoke and mirrors" before "we actors" arrive on set. I'm not sure who works harder in the "prep" stages - actors or crew? All I know is that it's a "team effort" - It's always great to see you on set Luke!!!!
Another great video! Always the best when working with good friends on set. Would love to see your opinion on the lightpanel apollo bridge compared to something like the AKS transmitter. Had a good amount of work with the AKS, but not til recently have I started hearing about the apollo bridge.
Thanks for this breakdown! This may be a silly question but what if there were exterior scenes that needed audio? How would you work around the genny/what would be the discussion with the sound department? Also, I'm guessing you may opt for an alternate set-up, and would there be a scenario where you could do it without the genny?
You put the genny further away and run beefier cable to set. One idea would be to talk a home owner into renting their back yard, then you would at least have a house in between you and the sound maker🙂
Hi Luke, thanks for a great video. Would It have been possible to use house power for this shoot ? Using maybe a "tie-in" ? Not sure if that is the right expression (I'm in Europe) : when you plug your 32Amps or more cable directly into the owner main circuit.
Good question! Yes, we could have used only house power, but we would have had to get permission from all the neighbors and run a lot of long extension cords. Not impossible, but kind of a pain and potentially a hazard unless we had good cable crossovers. I tie-in could also have worked, but again, a lot of cable runs. However, it would certainly have been quieter!
Awesome work! But... No wet down??
Ha, ha! Good point😀
@@meetthegaffer keep up the great work! I always look forward to your videos!
Cool!
those generators were really loud, how did yall manage to conceal that when filming? or is all the sound added in post
The beauty of MOS!
@@meetthegaffer ok that’s what I thought😂. So if you did have sound from the production what would be your advice to minimize boom or lavs from picking up the generator
@@AnimeZone247 We would have put the generator further down the street and maybe baffled it a bit, and run some larger gauge wire distribution from the genny to the set where there would add break-out boxes where we could plug in.
I am so used to working with 110 volts. Are the LED s auto voltage select are do you need to select voltage manually?
I’m assuming they are auto select like an ARRI M18 ballast. But funny thing, I’m so used to plugging them into 110 I’ve never even thought about it! Just look on the control box and if it says something to the effect of 100-240V you should be good… which is exactly what is printed on the AC adapter for the Nanlux Evoke 1200😃.
@@meetthegaffer Still on the subject of juicing with 220 volts. My understanding is that these instruments are wired to work with one live, one neutral and one ground when using 120 volts. In my experience in the USA, we generate 220 -240 volts with 2 lives and a one ground. How did Alan source 220 volts to accommodate one live, one neutral, one ground? Are the generators single phase 220V ? Thanks.
On he Honda putt-putts there is a twist lock out put that will give you 220V. Alan adapts this to a regular Edison box, brightly labeled so there’s no mistaking that it is 220V, and the you can use a regular stinger, u-ground extension cord, to send 220 to the light. The only difference in a country that has 220V coming out of the wall is that you’d have different connectors, but most electronic units, unless labeled otherwise, can take either 120 or 220 quite seamlessly. You can’t do this with tungsten because the bulbs need to be configured differently to handle the different voltage.
Thank for sharing the breakdown. Honestly, this does looks more like a street light effect rather then moonlight in my opinion. However the crew did a big job and production spent...
What’s them blue things on the top pipe
I think you mean the cheeseboros that are painted blue? Those will be used to connect more pipe once attached to the condor.
Is it just me or the close up on the little kid is over exposed?
He's over exposed, but because he's standing in front of the car's headlights.
I love these breakdown with set footage! Having said that, I feel like the scene feels a little too lit. Not really moonlight-ish and for a ambient street lamp situation it's also too soft I think.
In terms of cinematic considerations I would agree. But this clip definitely feels like an intentional choice. Creates the sense that the focus is on the positive message of safety and feels approachable. Compared to say a road safety ad campaign where they might want the darkness to feel more real.
@@cagf2013 Maybe. Although one could argue that in a darker setting the car's feature would be even more helpful as peoples eyesight get worse with less light. But hey... overall nicely done.
@@prottentogo yeah, agree with that - maybe a cooler color temp for the moonlight and a slightly darker grade might have sold the night time aspect without looking too threatening…
Anyone else try wiping the spot on the wall behind Luke’s head off their screen or am I the only idiot?
Ha, ha! Normally I have a picture hanging there, put it’s not placed well for my fat head. Sorry for the distraction! Too funny.
P.S.: The moon is a very small, harsh source of light. That was a giant softbox giving you light which looked nothing like moonlight. Again, I apologize if I'm coming across badly. But looking like a prick IS kinda my thing. You go with what you've given, right?
This was my first impression "misled" by the title moonbox. I like the light´s character, the houses, the street, probably the name moonbox may be not the perfect name for what it did? Again, very impressive, though Luke nearly said "M18" - gear is already changing, brain still needs some time ;-)
It's true that moonlight is a hard source. But for some reason, many people don't think it is. So if you put up a hard source, many times people think it feels fake. Name of the video aside, I think the box in the sky was to just create a general directionless ambient.
We’ll said. I’ve just been hearing people call that general contraption a Moonbox, so figured that would draw interested people.
Great video. It’s never work when your with hood people.
Not trying to be a prick, but I found the commerical over lit and very unnatural looking. Would have done it with a great high ISO camera and much less light (and crew... and equipment). You obviously had a nice budget. Seems like the look falls into the "because we can" category rather than "because we should".
Thank you for responding. Different aesthetic choices lead to different outcomes. One person’s white moon is another’s blue moon, soft through clouds or hard.
@@meetthegaffer Cloudbox? 😉