Stage Lighting For Video Questions

[zackw250]

Hello...

Currently in our main theatre (1500 seats) we use ColorTran ellipsoidals for lighting our stage positions. We shoot video at every service for both IMAG (Image Magnification) and Broadcast.

I am not happy with the spots because every time our pastor wants to get up and move around during his sermon (even if it's just a couple feet) he either goes into the dark, or there are lines where he transitions from one ellipsoidal to another. This is why I would like to use two fresnels at 45 degree angles to light the pastors area.

Since we light for video everything has to be 3200K.

Our stage is 60 ft wide by 26 feet deep. The area i want to light is about 20ft by 10ft (roughly). Any suggestions for what fresnels I should use. Throw distance from FOH electric to stage is about 20 feet. I would need barn doors to keep the light from spilling onto our CYC or the front of the precinium (sp?).

Any suggestions on type, make, model, wattage, etc? And since were a church budget is always in the back of our minds. Any ideas or thoughts would help! Thanks.. ZW

[moojoe]

instead of buying fresnels, why not just modify the ellipsoidals? if you want to get rid of that line when it crosses, just stick in some frost. Rosco 119 would probably do it. it would just difuse the border of the light so that you dont see the transition thats like $6 compaired to a few hundred.

[cutlunch]

Good idea Moojoe. Zwackw250 are there only one ellipsoids per area? If so pair them up the same way you were going to do the Fresnels. With the frost or diffuser inserted this will spread the light. For the size of area you are talking about I would divide the front of the pastors area into three areas. The area is almost to deep to be one area. I would have lights inside the proscenium arch to light the back of the area. If you are doing this it might be worth reviewing how you light the whole stage at the same time.

[TechWench]

Im probably VERY wrong, but dont you want your color temperature at 5600k?

please correct me if im wrong! I had a crash course in lighting for television. but maybe i am remembering wrong!

:roll:

[zackw250]

Ok.. to clear some stuff up...

Yes, each lighting area has two ellipsoidals @ 45 degree angles. The problem isn't when passing between those two ellipsoidals, its from when he passes into the next lighting area.

We already diffuse the light, but the camera sees the transition between (either as a dark line or a bright line).

Plus, another reason we want to use fresnels verses ellipsoidals is the number of fixtures. Currently we use 6 ellipsoidals to light the pastor's area. If we got fresnels, we would only need 2, maybe 3. I have already decided that fresnels are the best choice, I just need to know if anyone has suggestions for beam sizes, wattage, etc.?

And you are wrong, correct color temperature for video is around 3200K. 5600K is more the tempature of our intellegent lights.

Thanks...ZW

[cutlunch]

If your dimmers can handle it then at least 2kw to help counter the loss because of the distance from FOH electric. I would go to the manufacturers websites for the brands of lights you can get there in the States. Start with your favourite company. Most of them should have tables that show light output as factor of beam angle, beam diameter on stage,distance from object etc. for their Fresnels.

For example the link below is to the spec sheet for a Colortran 2kw Fresnel which would appear to do your job. Before buying I would get my light meter out and measure the current levels in the pastor's area so you can compare that with spec sheets.

I take it that you had spent a lot of time refocusing the ellipsoids before you decided on the Fresnel option.

http://www.colortran.com/catalog/pdf/lthfres8.pdf

[TechWench]

I was thinking Intels...my bad!

[zackw250]

cutlunch -

Thanks, I dont currently have a light meter, and I doubt church finances would allow me to purchase anything over $150. Any suggestions for a light meter on the cheap?

And yes, I have spent many a times up there focusing the ellipsoidals, and am frankly tired of it.

Thanks...

[SuperCow]

The cheapest light meater that [url=http://www'toolsforstagecraft.com]Tools for Stagecraft sells is the Sekonic L398-M, for $220 USD.

This meter has been the industry standard for incident and reflected light measurement for years. It's swivel head makes getting and accurate reading in those difficult situations easy and the needle locks too! And you never need batteries! It comes with the Lumispere, Lumidisc and Lumigrid for adjusting illumination intensity, for measuring reflected and incident light. Also comes with case and neck cord. It's a complete package that's useful for both professional and student alike.

[cutlunch]

Originally Posted by zackw250

cutlunch -

Thanks, I dont currently have a light meter, and I doubt church finances would allow me to purchase anything over $150. Any suggestions for a light meter on the cheap?

And yes, I have spent many a times up there focusing the ellipsoidals, and am frankly tired of it.

Thanks...

Hi. I did a quick search for a Lux meter on the web and found this site below. This meter would probably be all you need, it appears similar to the ones that sell in our equivalent of Radio Shack. You have some interesting companies in the states lol.

http://www.familydefense.com/luxmeter.htm

I can't remember the figure at the moment but I think you can have about a 20 lux light level difference before it becomes too big of a problem for the camera.

If your camera picks up a good picture without the lights being at 100% this will help later as the lamps gets old, you will be able to use them longer before changing them.