Re: Suggestions to light up a rectangular-shaped Chinatown store

Haha, I'm sorry to confuse you guys with "lighting coordinator", as I just made it up. In other words I am just a newbie to real-life, on the job film-making, although my mother is a TV and film veteran producer and director from Hong Kong of many years experience herself (I've been on made-in-Vancouver-for-Hong Kong TV series sets when I was a toddler). But I am overall the lighting guy sort of learning the ropes under the cameraman (there is only a crew of 3 people here, the cameraman, me as the lighting kid, and my mother who's directing the 15-20 minute episodes- and we're doing these consumer videos for a Chinese-Canadian consumer association here in Vancouver).

Put it this way, I "pull stress" off the cameraman while still learning-- or getting work experience-- from people regarding the technical stuff. I am still responsible for assisting in setting up and packing up the equipment as well as assist in determining the proper lighting since there is only a crew of 3. I guess you could say that I have the last of the backseat so far in terms of being part of the crew.

You guys are right in the sense that there is no person responsible for lighting and no properly trained lighting guy, so the cameraman makes me responsible for the lighting gear so he can focus on filming. :P I believe the cameraman may have filters although I need to check. And yes you guys are correct in terms of spending money. These episodes are funded by the government through film grants, and I don't know exactly how much but I do know some of these usually have budget limitations and aren't flexible enough to suit the wildest dreams a crew wants. So it's a small project but yet of great viewing value-- at least to consumers in this sense.

The lighting equipment themselves are personally owned by the cameraman and he determines what gear to use. I just wanted to double-check with you guys to see if there are solutions to enhance lighting under these situations (and as a suggestion to the cameraman himself).

But I do appreciate and thanks for your comments!!