#practicallights

[mobilemoviemaking]

Cornucopia of Practical Lights The primary function of film lighting is to enable viewers to see the subject or subjects at hand. But light sources themselves can be subjects worthy of attention. Lights that appear in the frame are called practical lights. This example—from the Smart Film Festival trailer—treats us to a variety of stunningly beautiful practical lights. The submission deadline for the Smart Film Festival is May 31, 2021. You can see the festival trailer and find a link to the entry information at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #practicallights #filmlighting #mobilemoviemaking https://www.instagram.com/p/CO_JSD2BLgw/?igshid=17uy7lg2mqi72

[mobilemoviemaking]

Candles in a Music Video A practical light is any source of illumination that appears in the frame. Celebrated examples include the light sabers in “Star Wars” and the heat rays in “War of the Worlds (1953). The technique is common because it almost always adds visual interest. The candlelit scene here is from “To the Death,” a music video set in medieval Russia. Directed by Mark Krivoshein (@etotmark), “To the Death” includes a terrific neofolk song, authentic musical instruments and costumes, and an intense hand-to-hand combat sequence. Performed by LYOD, this memorable video is the current Mobile Movie of the Week. You can see it at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). #practicallights #movielighting #musicvideo #neofolk #neofolkmusic #Kirov #mobilemovie #smartphonemovie https://www.instagram.com/p/CLaUeGkhSjh/?igshid=226apwz6i7ii

[mobilemoviemaking]

Tip # 256: USE A COMPUTER MONITOR TO LIGHT YOUR SUBJECT. We’ve talked several times about practical lights—candles, flashlights, lightning, and other kinds of illumination seen in the frame. To that list let’s add the computer monitor, used here to illuminate the face of a character in “Home/Body.” The eerie effect is perfect for this two-minute short created by Dylan Hillerman and Julia Reodica, cofounders of Guignolfest Productions. “Home/Body” will soon be featured as a Mobile Movie of the Week. #mobilemoviemakingtips #practicallights #guignolfest https://www.instagram.com/p/CBozaIipjiO/?igshid=c24axo11yh2a

[mobilemoviemaking]

ANOTHER “PRACTICAL LIGHT” EXAMPLE. In an earlier tip (12) we discussed practical lights—objects such as flashlights, candles, and fireflies—and explains why they can add value to a movie. “Paris 9/19” adds “stained glass” to the list of illuminated objects with visual appeal. The travelogue, directed by @RianJohnson, was chosen as a Mobile Movie of the Week. Speaking of travelogues: If you’re preparing for a trip in 2020, your thoughts about the adventure could make a competitive entry in our Preview 2020 Video Contest. You can find all the rules at MobileMovieMaking (link in profile). Just click the crystal ball in the home page slide show. #MobileMovieMakingTips #iPhonemovies #travelogues #practicallights #stainedglass #Paris https://www.instagram.com/p/B4qH8RIBckK/?igshid=rpjokuyltacu

[mobilemoviemaking]

PRACTICAL LIGHTS—continued. In Tip #12, we talked about “practical lights,” illumination sources that are seen in the frame. Obvious examples include birthday candles, lightning, flashlights, fireworks, Christmas tree lights, and the setting sun. But there are plenty of other possibilities, and it’s worth looking for them because viewers never get tired on this effect. The example here is from “Glow in the Streets,” a one-minute documentary directed by Dexter Craig. The film was chosen by the editors of MobileMovieMaking Magazine as a Mobile Movie of the Week. Have you shot a video that features practical lights? If yes, tell us about it in the comments and post it with #practicallights. #mobilemoviemakingtips #practicallights #lighting #movielightingP https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JerWHh-qT/?igshid=ofpri3vtmv20

[mobilemoviemaking]

Tip #105: PUT A LIGHT IN THE BACKGROUND. Filmmakers rely on off-screen lights to illuminate their subjects. Such lights can be natural—the sun, the moon, a lightning bolt—or artificial (a movie light). On-screen lights—known as practical lights—appear in the shot. Examples include car headlights, candles, flashlights, campfires, and interior lamps. One important use of practical lights is to add depth and interest to a shot. The example here is from “Clickbait,” a short horror film directed by Ryan Phillips. “Clickbait” will soon be featured as a Mobile Movie of the Week by the editors of MobileMovieMaking Magazine. #mobilemoviemakingtips #filmlighting #practicallights https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgmY_thMGj/?igshid=1cp93ek7qsboz