Advice for night filming

[Ash's_evil_hand]

This is a tricky one. I'm planning on setting the vast majority of my film at night, but it's not the type of production where I'm going to have a lighting rig ar anything even close. I've been thinking about using a blue filter over the camera to get the night effect - do any of you guys have experience with this method, and how did you find it?

Another option is to use the low-light feature on the camera (when I eventually buy one). I'm aware that this will give a much grainier feel, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. And because I'm only shooting the film for my own satisfaction, I'm not too worried about getting it right first time.

Also, a couple of the scenes are around a bonfire. I realise manual exposure will be a priority here, but do you think the light of a fire is enough to ligh a night-time scene, or would I need any extra light?

Don't get me wrong, I realise that there's no substitute for hands-on experience, but it can't hurt to get some of your input as well.

[MisterSadistro]

It is always easier to remove light after the fact than it is to try adding it in later. Get 2 Halogen stands from Walmart for about $30 each and do yourself a huge favor. It'll be worth it in the long run.
CK

[The STE]

I think the best advice for someone doing a non-professional, just for fun-style of filmmaking I've heard about night-filming was given to me by my filmmaking instructor:

Don't.

[Papillon Noir]

Are you using actual film or doing it on a digital camera?

If you're using film, your light meter will tell you how much light you need for the image to show up. Use this in conjuction with your depth of field chart.

Also, just adding a blue filter (gel) will not give you a blue effect, it will make it look orange. The gels are used to color correct. You typically use a blue gel when you want you outdoor lighting to match indoor lighting (they have a different temperature).

For digital you don't have to worry about any of that, but what you see is what you get.

In general, use at least two light sources so that you don't get such a spotlight effect. If you're doing the bonfire thing, you still need lights, fire doesn't show up on film/digital as much as you would think.

Lastly, just remember you can always fix it in post, just the more that you need to fix, the longer it takes and the more you wished you did it right in the first place. With the editing software out there now, it is typically very easy to just darken your shots or add a blue tinge.

[Ash's_evil_hand]

Well thanks very much for these tips. It will be a digital camera I'm using.

It's very much a learning curve, and this will be my first attempt. I'm not even sure it will ever get off the ground, but whatever happens I'll learn a great deal from it.