Whether you want to make animated shorts, documentaries or feature films, the ability to tell stories through film is rewarding and often difficult. Filmmaking takes the right tools, tricks and experiences.

Lighting, for instance, is essential in making a scene work. If a room is too dark or too bright, the camera may be unable to correctly capture the scene. Furthermore, you will always need external lights. Cameras do not see in the same way as the human eye, so extra lighting will help create a vibrant image for the viewer. Knowing how to set up a room and how to arrange lighting, shades and camera equipment will help your film go further.

Know Popular Techniques

Some popular lighting techniques include:

• Soft light from the front and strong, direct light from the back is often used to give focus on your character or object in a scene. Soft light also is referred to as fill light.
• To create somber, intense scenes, leave areas of darkness in between the soft lights and backlights. This will help create shadows and give your film a specific look.
• Using lights of different color can create different effects in your scenes. You can experiment to see which color combinations contribute to the mood and setting you are after.

Learn From Others

As you progress through each scene, characters, sets and objects move. Therefore, your lights must, too. Here are some suggestions to think about:

• Be smart about the way you film. If you need a specific light setup for various scenes, film all of them together so you don’t have to go back and forth with your lights.
• Watch other films and filmmakers, and learn from their techniques. Experiment with lighting in your scenes to see what is most effective. For example, you can try creating a silhouette, which utilizes a bright background and a dark foreground so there is no light on the characters’ faces.
• Natural light is not always effective. If you are filming an indoor scene and need more light, you can always shine lights through the windows to give the illusion of a bright, sunny day outside.

Control Your Scene

Filmmakers must take control from the very beginning. Script writing will immediately set the tone on paper and help you imagine the world you want to create. Lighting then sets up the scene and controls the mood. So, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether or not you want backlight, front light, dark scenes or experimentation with color.

Another contributing factor to controlling lighting is through your set. How are the materials, fabrics and furniture reflecting or absorbing light? Be aware of natural reflectors such as water or snow as well as the differences in color temperatures of different lightbulbs, streetlights, sunlight, moonlight and anything else that gives off a glow. In order to manipulate the light, think about investing in blinds, shades, reflectors, filters and lenses that can change the intensity, direction or color of the light.

Try Until It Works

Experimenting with techniques and trying new ones is the best way to learn. Taking test shots will allow you to see what works best with a scene. Filmmakers should never be afraid to try new things because you may stumble upon something unexpected that works better than you imagined.

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