Re: Fluorescent light solution

Leo is absolutely right in everything he says regarding Kino Flos. However. If you cannot afford to rent Kinos, if you do not have Kinos available to you, then by all means get yourself a couple of cheap flourescent lights from Home Depot. And while you are standing there, looking at all the different models available, take a moment and listen to the buzz. Yikes. If that doesn't scare the hell out of you. But in truth, I used three of the inexpensive flourescent fixtures in a no-budget shoot for an actor/friend, and had no problems. And I have used these babies other places with similar results. The biggest problem, as Leo mentions, is mounting them where you need them. Kinos are a snap, as the ballast sits on the floor, and its easy to stick up a couple of light weight bulbs. So you will have to figure a way to get the fixtures where you want them. I used a maffer clamp on a C-stand for one light, and placed the others where I wanted them on cabinets and such. You probably don't have grip equipment available.

You can find bulbs at Home Depot that are balanced to 3200Kelvin, supposedly. They should be close enough. Look at them in the preset white balance before you do any white balance. They may look good. The lamps I used are not manufactured any longer and are around 2800 K and I don't white balance (Leo would approve) because I like the warmth they provide. Very much non-flourescent looking. The Home Depot bulbs are also available in a daylight variety.

Just be aware, you are taking a chance with the buzz, but your audio guy should tell if he hears it. And of course, if there is flicker, it will show up in your picture, and all you can do is swap out the fixture.

Having professional tools at your disposal is always the preferred way to operate, but sometimes it's just not possible for the novice "filmmaker." And unfortunately, rental houses are forced to require a hefty insurance policy that knocks a lot of new people out of the game. So, I think we are creating a whole new category of Home Depot Filmmakers. And it's not such a bad thing. Do the best you can, and, safety first. At the very least, you are going to learn something.

KJLH
Wayne