Product Review: Page (1) of 2 - 04/30/04

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Off the top of my head I can only think of about three training video series that cover basic lighting for video.  At NAB 2004 the list got both longer and shorter.  Longer in the sense that there are now more videos available, and shorter in the sense that there is now one video I recommend for those wanting to know the basics of lighting for video.

DV Enlightenment produced by DVcreators.net takes the DV auteur and shows the dramatic lighting that can be achieved with a basic knowledge of lighting.  When I was first given this DVD for review at NAB, I was a little skeptical at what it might cover.  I have seen many of the other lighting training videos and know first hand how boring they can be.  DV Enlightenment has really impressed me.  The quality and content both complement one another in a way that keeps the viewer engrossed.

This training DVD is the first in the new DV Cinematography series, and, as the title implies, is targeted toward the DV beginner/intermediate.  While some good tips and trick might be picked up by a veteran, this inaugural offering is clearly aimed at those who are looking to improve their entry level skills.  Educators, students, and indie filmmakers will get a lot out of this jam packed one hour video.

The DVD is broken into four main sections:

The DVcreators.net Four Point Lighting Method
In this section Josh, the host, gives a comprehensive overview of the four point lighting system.  While this same information can be found in my Lighting 101 series, moving images speak louder than words.  If it has been drilled into your head that the three/four point lighting system is only for interviews and non-narrative content will change your mind after seeing the results achieved in this section.

Working with Sunlight
While shooting outdoors seems to be the best way to work around lack of lights, not everyone does it correctly.  The techniques presented here offer simple, cheap and effective solutions for shooting with that big ball of fire in the sky.

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