Space vs light question

Hello all. I am working for a not-for-profit company. I have been put in charge of planning and (hopefully) building a small studio. The goal of this studio would be a single camera interview style shoot in front of a green screen. Ideally, our goal would be to take the footage, add graphics using chroma-key, and then publish and add interactive flash compenents (eg. subject:"click on the map behind me" and then, upon click, bring up an enlarged detailed map). Being thrown into the project with very little time, the slow and steady apporach for learning the finer points is sadly not an option. Because so many of my searches have sent me back here, i figured I would try. The greenscreen will be at least 8ft by 10ft and possibly 8ft by 16ft. Along with a basic three light set-up for the subject, the best thing I have come up with, from both a cost perspective and a space persepective, would be lighting the green screen from both sides with a bank of 4 ft florecents from the local hardware store and using 3000 lumens softlights. Does anybody have any suggestions? Tips? HELP?

Thanks to all that reply in advance. This website has been a huge help already.

While John's advice is spot-on, as it unwaveringly always it.... it is also advice that can be a little hard on the wallet.

I'm a huge fan of Kinos and use them often... however KinoFlos are quite darn expensive, and the hardware-store variety of shop-light flos can be had for about $15.

If budgets aren't an issue, YES, go for the Kinos. But you say you're working for a not-for-profit, and I know they rarely have deep pockets.

I will admit (shhhh!) that I have used Home Depot fixtures in the past, especially for wall-washing... and I think there's one or two on the other side of our building on our stage right now. A few years ago we bought a few for a particular zero-budget project... and put Kino tubes in them and re-ballasted them so they were silent and flicker free (and dimmable). We even painted the outsides black so they didn't look completely like $15 shop lights. Yeah... they still look cheap and flimsy (which they are), but for an inexpensive permanent install I have to begrudgingly admit they work fine.


T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

These look interesting, especially the Setlite Series, used on the floor or ceiling. I haven't tested it but the throw looks good.

http://www.videssence.tv/product_select_studio_fixtures.php



-> Ralph

Mark,

Regarding your experience with Videssence...

Do you use the Setlite model? If so, what is the usable coverage on a wall, backdrop or screen?
I'm thinking of using one unit for a fairly portable operation, relying upon it to light a green screen single handed. What do you think? How large a backdrop could I use with one Setlite, lightinng up from the floor, versus the ceiling (should be the same pattern on the backdrop).

Do you use other models? What for? If you use them for the backdrop, which models and how are they arrayed?

Thanks very much. I got excited seeing the Setlite chart and hope it may work out for us. It's fgreat to have someone with practical and positive experience.

-> Ralph

Checked out the set lights I mentioned last week. They may have changed the instruments a bit since we got ours, most of ours look like the Videssence B11-255BY but ours have the tubes facing out, not parallel. We also have several of the K110-225 "Kool lites", and something like the model B084-242 Baselight. You can tube these for either a daylight or a tungsten white balance, we are using the Osram tubes.