Lighting a Green Screen Studio

[JustinGD]

I am building a medium sized green screen studio (about 40'X40', 15' high) and I would love some input from everyone here. I am not trying to compete with the big studios, I live about an hour north of Toronto and will be using the space primarily for my own productions. I wouldn't mind renting it out occasionally to help pay the rent as I would be the only studio in the area.

What do you suggest I use as permanent screen lighting? What do you like to see there when you walk into a studio?
Second question is, what other gear, lighting or otherwise, does your favorite studio have available to you?

Thank you in advance, I would be nothing without the people of Reduser.

[David W. Jones]

I would start with space lights.

[chad vachter]

kinos for sure

[Markus Olsson]

Kinos! But you have also a not so expensive choise, http://www.coollights.biz/softlight-...23decefc1dcb94

[Jacques Mersereau]

Mole Richardson Space Lights are used a lot:
http://www.mole.com/lighting/overhea...es/spaces.html

And Kinoflo
http://www.kinoflo.com/Lighting%20fi...,%20Single.htm


In our studio, I went with Kino 4'x4 banks. I liked the idea of being able to change lamps between 3200K and 5600K
but so far we have yet to used the 5600º lamps.
It takes about 6-8 of them to light just the screen of 40'w by 20' high. You'll need more for the stage and/or if you want to
shoot at a higher shutter speeds and f-stops.
The 4x4s do a nice job, are energy efficient and do not produce near the heat of space lights.
Others may disagree.

Are you building a cove?

[JustinGD]

Thanks everyone, I am building a cove. I use Kino's a lot when I'm shooting a small green screen but I have never seen them used as permanent studio lights, you must have a much nicer studio than I'm used to working in. I'm curious Jacques, why have you not used the 5600K bulbs? Wouldn't you want to use that any time you are shooting a scene set outdoors? And don't the cooler lights help with keying due to reduced noise in the blue channel?
A contractor friend of mine has suggested I look at a consumer product. I'm skeptical but may pursue it unless someone here knows why these wouldn't work http://www.energreentechnologies.com...light-30w-150w

[Glen Powell]

Thanks everyone, I am building a cove. I use Kino's a lot when I'm shooting a small green screen but I have never seen them used as permanent studio lights, you must have a much nicer studio than I'm used to working in. I'm curious Jacques, why have you not used the 5600K bulbs? Wouldn't you want to use that any time you are shooting a scene set outdoors? And don't the cooler lights help with keying due to reduced noise in the blue channel?
A contractor friend of mine has suggested I look at a consumer product. I'm skeptical but may pursue it unless someone here knows why these wouldn't work http://www.energreentechnologies.com...light-30w-150w

The CRI on those is pretty low - Number one reason I wouldn't use them. Second would be that I've haven't used any 'Cine' or 'Film' L.E.D. fixture that's given off the quality of light available from a tungsten fixture / H.M.I. / or Kino… so I'm skeptical of a consumer L.E.D. setup.

If you are only ever going to use the studio for your own projects - this may get you going at minimal cost, but you'll probably want to change them out as you get more money (no clue what your financial situation is). If you want to rent the studio as 'lit' most producers, directors, D.P.'s wouldn't touch it with that kind of lighting set-up.

G.

[Jeff Zueger]

If you want to do it on the cheap, (like I did:) I put a line of china balls around the perimeter of my wall... works great. I put (2) 85w cfl daylight balanced bulbs in in each china ball. Total about $300
I tried to light the wall only with the china balls and skirted them off to camera and subjects. I use daylight balanced kinos and hmis for subject light.
I used the Alzo cfl bulbs which I know are a bit off on color shift ( a little green) but cant see how that would matter much on a green wall. On your subject is a different story. Works great for me anyway
Good luck

[JustinGD]

Thanks Glen, it took me a while to find that stat sheet but you are absolutely right, probably not a good investment. Jeff, china balls might be the perfect solution to get me started!
I think Kino's are a little too expensive, especially for the size I am trying to build. At a hight of 15 feet, does anyone know how many 1K Mole Cyc lights I would need on a 40' wall? Do I place them every 5 feet? more? less? Thanks again everyone for your advice.

[Bob Gundu]

40x40 is a large space and the best way would be us use Space lights or china balls. Kinos would be ok to light talent but they would need to be of the large variety.