Cinematography-Theory-And-Practice

Cycs, Strips, Nooks and BroadsWhen just plain output is needed, broad lights are strictly no-frills,utilitarian lights. They are just a box with a double-ended bulb. Assimple as it is, the broad light has an important place in film history.In classical Hollywood hardlighting, the fill near the camerawas generally a broad light with a diffuser. The distinctive feature ofthe broad light is its rectangular beam pattern, which makes blendingthem on a flat wall or cyc much easier: imagine how difficult ifwould to be smoothly combine the round, spotty beams of Mightiesor Fresnel lights.The smallest version of the broad is the nook, which, as its nameimplies, is designed for fitting into nooks and crannies. The nooklight is a compact, raw-light unit, usually fitted with an FCM orFHM 1000 watt bulb. The nook is just a bulb holder with a reflector.Although barn doors are usually available, nooks aren’t generallycalled on for much subtlety, but they are an efficient and versatilesource for box light rigs, large silk overhead lights, and for largearrays to punch through frames.A number of units are specifically designed for illuminating cycsand large backdrops. For the most part they are open face 1K and1.5K units in small boxes; these are call cycs, cyc strips, or Far Cycs(which create a more even distribution up and down the background).Chinese Lanterns and SpacelightsChinese lanterns (China balls) are the ordinary paper globe lamps availableat houseware stores (Figure 8.24). A socket is suspended insidethat holds either a medium-base bulb (household, ECA, ECT, BBA,BCA, etc.) or a 1K or 2K bipost. Just about any rig is possible if thelantern is large enough to keep the paper a safe distance from the hotFigure 8.26. Balloon lights requireminimal rigging. The museum wouldhave not permitted installation of aheavy-duty lighting grid above theEgyptian temple. In this setup, theballoons have black skirts, whichcontain and control the spill. (Photocourtesy of Sourcemaker.)lighting sources143