ABSTRACT
Low-budget filmmaking almost always utilizes existing locations – real houses, offices, and so on. It’s usually lots cheaper to find a workable location than to build a set. Let’s go over Jackman’s Seven Steps to Low-Budget Lighting Success: less is more, less is enough, less is effective, make walls interesting, don’t be afraid of shadows, make use of natural light and balance is everything. The light was set to illuminate the two subjects but not to hit the white walls at all. Rather than fighting strong sunlight with incandescents, use reflectors or mirrors to rearrange the sunlight. One of the greatest innovations for quick close-ups is the use of a Chinese lantern mounted on a fishpole. There are lots of options for cheap improvised lighting out there for the low-budget filmmaker, too – many more than in the past.
