Documentary Filmmaking Course: www.documentaryfilmmaker.co/ Get 70% Off your first year of Audiio by using my code zarfati70 audiio.com/alexzarfati Join the Discord: discord.gg/7apTr23H This video was graded with my cinema Luts: www.alexzarfati.com/luts My favorite lens: amzn.to/3CCR7X1 My Favorite Light: amzn.to/44kYvke My Camera Bodies Ursa 12K amzn.to/3AyXpnT Bmpcc 6K Pro amzn.to/3TuW7Do My Lenses Sigma lens 24-70mm amzn.to/4433N4a Sigma lens 50mm amzn.to/3CCR7X1 Sigma lens 24mm amzn.to/3RmYl5R Sigma lens 50-100mm amzn.to/3PTUpIF My Drone Mavic Pro 3 amzn.to/3AyXpnT My Audio Gear Rode NTG3 amzn.to/42KGkDx Cheaper Lav System amzn.to/3Q1eYD1 Better Lav System amzn.to/3e0bcwd Zoom Recorder amzn.to/3CHmC2q Patch Cable amzn.to/3R4a1uy Get this for Rodelink lav set amzn.to/3pSyO8H Boom Pole amzn.to/3wFwoy8 My Monitor Feelworld Cut6 Monitor amzn.to/3n9qmnj Feelworld Monitor amzn.to/3PZLa9C SDI Cable amzn.to/3R16cWV HDMI Cable amzn.to/3pVpzoo My Lights GVM 650B: amzn.to/44kYvke FEELWORLD: 225B amzn.to/3GSPxlKFeelworld FEELWORLD FL 125B amzn.to/3Gu2MI9 Amaran 300C amzn.to/4ax1Gtq Aputure 300D II amzn.to/3RfaXeY Aputure Mini Lights amzn.to/3RlUDte Nanlite Projector mount amzn.to/44BAxTd Aputure light dome amzn.to/3cxC3zs Aputure light dome Mini amzn.to/3ATJIl1 Tripods and C-stands Tripod Small rig amzn.to/3Nbf5MJ Tripod amzn.to/3AtMRXn Cheap C-stand amzn.to/3PYuYWq Better C-stand amzn.to/3Rvw4d8 Accessories Ursa sticky circles for lav amzn.to/3Ax6Iov Sandbags amzn.to/3e6Fzky Clamps amzn.to/3QYSZxS Gaff Tape amzn.to/3wETbdo Painters Tape amzn.to/3wHAQMN Tool Set amzn.to/3AwYLQ9 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases #commisionsearned
I stayed away from "Top/Down" lighting for years because of crappy TH-camrs always telling me "it takes the life out of your talent!" because it gives a raccoon eye effect, the talent has no catch light in their eyes....and one day I just said I wanted to do it on a project. I dont know why but that was the vibe that was in my head for that particular scene and it was my favorite lighting set up I have ever done. I started to pay closer attention to my favorite films and noticed top/down lighting is literally everywhere and I use it more than anything now
That’s 🔥 way to follow your gut. Dude don’t listen to me or anyone for that matter. It’s always good to learn from others but nothing beats your gut and following your inspiration
I was the same, but the other way around - I always read or heard you must shoot all commercial work very high-key, almost flat, because it's safe and doesn't evoke negative feelings in the audience. Well, maybe it is safe in a way, but because of that, 99% of my old works look amateur and boring ;)
@@Alexzarfatifilms I love listening to everyone because I get a good taste of what EVERYONE is doing. Does the very historically used Rembrandt lighting work most of the time? YES! And I still use it ALOT. But I love seeing videos like this that say "hey, theres more than one style to light a subject!" and this is content I love because it demonstrates to everyone heres all the different ways you can do it...and they all look amazing. Just do whats right for that scene, for that project, for that client
Really enjoyed this video…. Can’t wait for my lights to arrive to try these out. I’ve never been excited about getting new lights…. We often get excited about new lenses and cameras but never lights…. This video has changed that for me. Thanks for this gem of a video…. This is education that we often pay thousands for. I appreciate you brother!
I work for a university so there isn't a ton of opportunity to be dramatic or time to set up elaborate lighting setups, so I use paramount lighting all the time.
This video is awesome....you organized all the essential lighting types in one easy to understand video with examples. Keep making great content like this, thanks
Great vid man, glad I found your channel! but oof. 'cinematic' might just be one of the most overused words of all time. haha. Also, in photography what you refer to as reverse key we'd call short side lighting. Is reverse key just a video-specific term? Really helpful stuff regardless!
@Alexzarfatifilms Right, but then the lighting set up takes more than one light. Yes, it's only lighting your background, but cut the light from the background and you have a wildly different image and usually not for the better.
Cinematic look is ligh AND production design AND camera AND lens AND talent AND color AND composition AND mood AND what happens in the frame. No matter how you light a talent it is never cinematic because of white background, looking straight into the camera and no meaning / no story of what happens in the frame.
Did you just say Lens have nothing to do with the quote and quote "CINEMATIC LOOK"? I Disagree, Tech Recs and camera / lens test are very important. . lensing plays a PIVOTAL ROLE TO Getting a certain look and feel man..
Documentary Filmmaking Course: www.documentaryfilmmaker.co/
Get 70% Off your first year of Audiio by using my code zarfati70 audiio.com/alexzarfati
Join the Discord: discord.gg/7apTr23H
This video was graded with my cinema Luts: www.alexzarfati.com/luts
My favorite lens: amzn.to/3CCR7X1
My Favorite Light: amzn.to/44kYvke
My Camera Bodies Ursa 12K amzn.to/3AyXpnT
Bmpcc 6K Pro amzn.to/3TuW7Do
My Lenses
Sigma lens 24-70mm amzn.to/4433N4a
Sigma lens 50mm amzn.to/3CCR7X1
Sigma lens 24mm amzn.to/3RmYl5R
Sigma lens 50-100mm amzn.to/3PTUpIF
My Drone Mavic Pro 3 amzn.to/3AyXpnT
My Audio Gear Rode NTG3 amzn.to/42KGkDx
Cheaper Lav System amzn.to/3Q1eYD1
Better Lav System amzn.to/3e0bcwd
Zoom Recorder amzn.to/3CHmC2q
Patch Cable amzn.to/3R4a1uy
Get this for Rodelink lav set amzn.to/3pSyO8H
Boom Pole amzn.to/3wFwoy8
My Monitor Feelworld Cut6 Monitor amzn.to/3n9qmnj
Feelworld Monitor amzn.to/3PZLa9C
SDI Cable amzn.to/3R16cWV
HDMI Cable amzn.to/3pVpzoo
My Lights GVM 650B: amzn.to/44kYvke
FEELWORLD: 225B amzn.to/3GSPxlKFeelworld
FEELWORLD FL 125B amzn.to/3Gu2MI9
Amaran 300C amzn.to/4ax1Gtq
Aputure 300D II amzn.to/3RfaXeY
Aputure Mini Lights amzn.to/3RlUDte
Nanlite Projector mount amzn.to/44BAxTd
Aputure light dome amzn.to/3cxC3zs
Aputure light dome Mini amzn.to/3ATJIl1
Tripods and C-stands
Tripod Small rig amzn.to/3Nbf5MJ
Tripod amzn.to/3AtMRXn
Cheap C-stand amzn.to/3PYuYWq
Better C-stand amzn.to/3Rvw4d8
Accessories
Ursa sticky circles for lav amzn.to/3Ax6Iov
Sandbags amzn.to/3e6Fzky
Clamps amzn.to/3QYSZxS
Gaff Tape amzn.to/3wETbdo
Painters Tape amzn.to/3wHAQMN
Tool Set amzn.to/3AwYLQ9
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases #commisionsearned
I stayed away from "Top/Down" lighting for years because of crappy TH-camrs always telling me "it takes the life out of your talent!" because it gives a raccoon eye effect, the talent has no catch light in their eyes....and one day I just said I wanted to do it on a project. I dont know why but that was the vibe that was in my head for that particular scene and it was my favorite lighting set up I have ever done. I started to pay closer attention to my favorite films and noticed top/down lighting is literally everywhere and I use it more than anything now
That’s 🔥 way to follow your gut. Dude don’t listen to me or anyone for that matter. It’s always good to learn from others but nothing beats your gut and following your inspiration
I was the same, but the other way around - I always read or heard you must shoot all commercial work very high-key, almost flat, because it's safe and doesn't evoke negative feelings in the audience. Well, maybe it is safe in a way, but because of that, 99% of my old works look amateur and boring ;)
@@Alexzarfatifilms I love listening to everyone because I get a good taste of what EVERYONE is doing. Does the very historically used Rembrandt lighting work most of the time? YES! And I still use it ALOT. But I love seeing videos like this that say "hey, theres more than one style to light a subject!" and this is content I love because it demonstrates to everyone heres all the different ways you can do it...and they all look amazing. Just do whats right for that scene, for that project, for that client
AWESOME! I’m ready to shoot a movie now 🔥🔥
Great, helpful overview. Thanks!
Thank you
Amazing lighting techniques! Thank you for teaching and sharing!
Thank you and your very welcome brother
The flat lighting technique is a new one for me. Thanks for dropping gems 💎, because I’m picking them up 😉
No lie I’m making videos now and thinking about what Cliff is going to say when I post it lol 😂 this is a good one
Thank you dude for this
your work is phenomenal with each upload your uplifting the bar for everyone in the filmmaking community ❤
Thank you Alex , doing some photos for a friend who is a singer/musician and this will definitely help !
That’s awesome dude super happy you found this useful 🙏🏻
Yeah your content is fire bro !! Keep it going
Really enjoyed this video…. Can’t wait for my lights to arrive to try these out. I’ve never been excited about getting new lights…. We often get excited about new lenses and cameras but never lights…. This video has changed that for me.
Thanks for this gem of a video…. This is education that we often pay thousands for.
I appreciate you brother!
Outstanding advice!! Thank you, for sharing your insights - so very practical and helpful!
You are very welcome 🤘🏻
Thank you for this 🙏
Good vid dude! I've been utilizing backlighting WAY more lately, it took me so long to find this cheat code
Thanks brother and yeah that backlight is the cheat code lol
Great tips as always. I'm looking for your video about Milanote but I can't find it :(
Thanks brother: here’s the link A Cinematographers Guide to Pre-Production
th-cam.com/video/VSRoNhmPQdI/w-d-xo.html
You're making the difference on here man. 0 bs just straight up knowledge 🫶
Thanks Nicolas I'm trying brother lol
Always some priceless tips and cues from one of the best!!! Let's goooo and thanks for everything Brother!!!
Thank you my brother 🙏🏻
I work for a university so there isn't a ton of opportunity to be dramatic or time to set up elaborate lighting setups, so I use paramount lighting all the time.
This video is awesome....you organized all the essential lighting types in one easy to understand video with examples. Keep making great content like this, thanks
Simple, but yet a great video, thanks!
This was great! Super easy to follow. Picked up some great lighting tips!
Love these looks and I love your main setup. You're actually using two lights though. You have some kind of ambient light on 😊
Hard work, simple video. Too good to be in TH-cam. Thanks
Your method are on point thank you so much
thanks man this was extremly helpful.
Thanks a lot, great and very informative video! 👍
Solid tips Thanks
bro thanks for your content
Awesome man I’m glad you found that helpful
Nice! What light did you use in these examples?
Great information 👍🏽
Hare Hare❤
Helpful tips bro!
Do you ever use black pro mist filters?
Sometimes, but every time I use them, I kind of regret it. Have you ever heard of the plug-in denhancer?
Where can I get the directors chair your sitting in?
Thx
It is great! How do you expose you subject? Do you use Zebras for face?
Typically false color but tbh we shot this in like 30 minutes so we didn’t check exposure on any of this footage lol but I like using false color
@@Alexzarfatifilms How do you use that, do you have video on that? I never used it before.
@coffeewithdamian lol it’s a little complicated to explain over text, but I definitely need to make a video on that. Noted and coming soon.
@@Alexzarfatifilms thanks!
Great vid man, glad I found your channel! but oof. 'cinematic' might just be one of the most overused words of all time. haha. Also, in photography what you refer to as reverse key we'd call short side lighting. Is reverse key just a video-specific term? Really helpful stuff regardless!
Yeah I think it’s the same thing and yeah unfortunately when you say cinematic people click lol
what's the defference between look 5 and look 8 ? the lighting position seems the same to me, can anyone please explain?
there has to be some more lights on the studio, no way that one soft box can light the entire background evenly
Yeah there was lights just lighting the cyc wall but only one light on me.
@Alexzarfatifilms Right, but then the lighting set up takes more than one light. Yes, it's only lighting your background, but cut the light from the background and you have a wildly different image and usually not for the better.
Is it the camera? Yes
Is it the lens they use? Also yes 😅
Your Canal is very nice.
❤❤❤
wanted to use top down light but i realize the subject is wearing a glasses, making a weird shadow in the face
Boss
Cinematic look is ligh AND production design AND camera AND lens AND talent AND color AND composition AND mood AND what happens in the frame.
No matter how you light a talent it is never cinematic because of white background, looking straight into the camera and no meaning / no story of what happens in the frame.
Definitely agree this is just a video about 8 different looks you can get with one light dude. But… totally
Did you just say Lens have nothing to do with the quote and quote "CINEMATIC LOOK"? I Disagree, Tech Recs and camera / lens test are very important. . lensing plays a PIVOTAL ROLE TO Getting a certain look and feel man..
Typo on “Rembrandt.” You dropped the “e.”