How To Light A Cinematic Interior Shot - With 3 Lights

Lighting is pretty damn important if you're looking to make cinematic footage, especially indoors - a good camera will help for low light, but learning to control the way the scene is lit is going to look way more cinematic than simply relying on your camera to do all the work.
It's good to think about it in terms of painting the scene with light - you start in pitch black and slowly introduce elements of lighting to draw interest and add texture to the shot.
After blocking out the daylight from the shot, I turned the lamp/practical on, to set the tone for the scene and how it would then be lit - it also added some subtle back light and separation for the subject.
I then added the 1st red head in as key light, which was a really hard light, making some harsh shadows - so I softened it with the diffusion in the middle of a 5-in-1 reflector.
I then played around with adding interest to the background, using the household ceiling lamp and adding a streak of light from another room using the 2nd red head, which was a little distracting, so diffusion was added to soften it up and call a little less attention to it.
The 3rd red head was used to create a second "lamp", making a bright patch on the wall and subtly implying that our key light was in fact coming from a light just off-camera, tying the lighting together and making it more believable.
All I used (excluding stands!) was a cheap set of 3 800w tungsten red head lights (Amazon or Ebay are easy for these) and the diffusion material from the middle of a standard 5-in-1 reflector (again, Amazon or Ebay).
As long as you've got some material for blacking daylight out, you can easily light night interiors during the day. This can even just be the curtains that are already there. There isn't really any set rules on what you can use to black light out, as long as your camera can't see any daylight spilling into the scene then you've done the job!
Black Magic Micro Cinema Camera
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 ART
Hoya UV/IR Cut
Metabones MFT - Nikon Speedbooster

[@user-yb1dg8oj6x]

Watching him just staying there being a practical model gave me more aesthetic pleasure and emotion than 90% of the movies out there.

[@goldpiecefilms2431]

This is simply one of the best 3 light setup tutorials. Thank you!

[@smdconcepts9089]

Yeah it is . And at least one of the others has to be this guys Cove Light video

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

LOVE the emphasis on mindset and telling the story of the process, and equally love the de-emphasis on the gear. As always, taste and judgment win the day. 👍🏻

[@layfield42500]

wasn't expecting to see house of kush here

[@nourouni2120]

Besides making the best and most efficient lighting tutoriel, the background music of the video is just stunning..

[@JanksMorton]

Just discovered this series today, and am completely engaged and blown away! thank you sir for your hands-on-real-world application tutorials!

[@KantSleep]

Wow. This really let me know how little I understand lighting. Glad you shared this and glad I found your channel

[@belgianbeermusic]

These videos are pure ASMR to me.

[@rbeditzz]

Brother I'm from india i searched so many tutorial and tried it.. it's looks creepy... But you're awesome... Please do more video about lighting... You're just brilliant ❤️❤️❤️❤️ seriously very good job bro... I'm speechless thanks a lot...

[@sodabeanzz7965]

Perfect explanation. I can't believe this is free knowledge man. Bless u

[@darkknightwithanidea1845]

Many talk... FEW DO.... !! Your channel DOES more than talk. It inspires. 👍🏻🎥💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@tochibiko]

One of my favorite lighting videos till date since the first time I watched it 2 years ago.

[@john3Lee]

Lighting is always the element that pays such a vital roll - Interesting video - Thanks

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Definitely!! Thanks John :)

[@tyronetolentino]

Bless you, Rob! You are a hidden gem on KZbin, and one of the reasons I am purchasing a BMMCC!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much, it's much appreciated :) glad I could help with your decision!

[@giraffeapproved]

I've learnt more about lighting by watching 2 of your videos than watching any other tutorials on lighting. Thank you kind sir!

[@BoyBlessing]

Crazy how much better in quality the footage got as the lighting got better

[@ReviewBru]

This channel is teaching me so much

[@ufolyrics5014]

Amazing! Thanks from Chile

[@necroticpoison]

That second one looks interesting as well. Not what you'd want for what is being gone for, but it feels like a bit of a niche or something

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Absolutely, you can take away and adjust things to get the look you want for any setup really, it's all about what you're going for! :)

[@esmeegloria]

Just the video I needed.. I was stressing out 🥵

[@itsdavehimself]

Your lighting tutorials are simply the best. Thank you!

[@yannickmondoux2435]

So good! Thx a lot, love it when tutorial are straight to the point. Spot on!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :)

[@jwpmotionpicturestudios]

Ahhhhhh!!!! So much love to the simplicity and structure!

[@chriss2295]

Thank you for the clear and concise presentation. Subscribed.

[@deseanmayes6977]

I'm new to this and u just up my learning and truly understand light!!!! I'm glad I came across your channel!!!! 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@RizGhumro]

Absolutely love these to the point and breakdowns! Learning so much from these short videos! Thank you!

[@siddharth_r1]

Nailed it. Haven’t seen a clearer presentation on the topic.

[@FormerLDBC]

what happened at 3:10? The image had noise, but your exposure was still the same, then after you adjusted the light the next shot the noise was gone. Just curious what happened there? I didn't see any exposure difference.

[@claudiofonseca3149]

this is really good

[@davedevola9266]

Absolutely Rob ... Good little work-through in an exellent approach to preliminary lighting setup, and the aesthetics of color also! Great video man!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Dave! :D

[@jamalmanyala8805]

Im so glad I found this channel.

[@valerio51987]

love your videos

[@HalloFilmz]

Super good

[@MrNovaboi90]

Great Tut!

[@DarkandMoodyProductions]

It's dark. It's moody. It's quality. Dig it. :D

[@pablovega6937]

Thanks a lot. You always get a quite cinematic image, congratulations

[@ScottBell]

This is so good.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Scott!!

[@ravensatodds]

These lighting tutorials are brilliant mate 👍🏼

[@Mayes6k]

mind blown thank you man you are about to change everything for me and how I use to think I knew what I was doing.

[@otmanalami6621]

perfect

[@chrisratchford8153]

Excellent video! I hope to use some of these concepts for a shoot tonight. Thanks for the help, Rob! Always love to see your videos.

[@LewisCooley]

Incredible as always, did you go to school Rob? I've been self teaching for 4 years and you are light years ahead of me.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Lewis! :) nope, no film school! I've always been very into films and video in general since I was young! :)

[@videocasetteTV]

excellent tutorial, kindly may you create a lighting tutorial you use in it 4 sachlter or redhead kits ( 12 lamps ) you light 2 persons the host and interviewee with three cameras, one for the host , second for interviewee third is long, the good you can try with these lamps different lighting sets even you can make it as training series , I didn't find any tutorial cover this area , also I think it will become very handy since these kind of lamps are cheap , so it is easy to buy or rent , hoping you have time to read my comment, thanks in advance

[@lachlanstamp4203]

This is just what I needed to see! You continue to be a lighting legend. Thank-you!

[@videocasetteTV]

Awesome, kindly may you create more lighting tutorials such as low key lighting, noir genera with red head fixtures

[@divyanshusahu2211]

Loved the Video man, Keep making those.

[@directedbyericsattler]

Great video, detail and appreciation to reasoning

[@andremoura6512]

Nice channel man! In love. Thanks from Brasil

[@saloksingh7]

This man 🔥🔥

[@ZakBedaida]

Much appreciated... Great practical hands on tutorial. Many thanks bro

[@mrhalish]

Great Video, I'm always interested in your camera setup too... lens choice, settings etc. good job!

[@unknown_legend]

Great video, really well crafted. Scrubbing the timeline the most replayed part (a part I went back to) were the Amazon screen shots. Get your affiliate link in the description :)

[@noligrutas]

Just subscribed! This content is gold. Thanks for creating!

[@michalchovanec7417]

So helpful ... great video. Thank you

[@AxiA]

great one! Subscribed!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :)

[@breeku]

This is immensely usefull, thanks 🙏 a ton

[@akashdileep804]

wow...

[@SKYPRODUCTIONSMEDIA]

Brilliant as always!

[@user-dt1do1pt9x]

Do you think it ll be better off buying “Neewer 2 Packs 660 LED Video Light Dimmable Bi-Color with Barndoor “ It is dimmable and bi-color. Trying to decide if I should get this or the one you suggested in the video...Thank you in advance !

[@nicolasaguilarherrera2310]

I love this video, thank you!

[@FeritNecib]

Great what about camera settings?

[@eifionjones8513]

Nicely done 👍

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you :)

[@HyagoRodriguez]

AWESOME! can’t wait to try it myself. Could you please provide the link for the lights you used in this video? Thank you 😊

[@alexandersilverdarter6722]

Fascinating!! Really good tutorial

[@danferraro3598]

AWESOME.

[@alexanderfilms1952]

Have you had any issues with the 800W redheads? My protective part on wire has burnt through meaning you can see wires and it kept tripping my house today

[@nicolasaquaroli7097]

Thanks bro! Great job

[@xesse1]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but could i get similar results to this using strobes? for still photography

[@lahoreevinezvlogsandinfo2684]

I have a sony a6400 with 50mm 1.8. I really want to shoot some indoor dramatic lighting scenes but that damn grain doesnt let my image be clean. I really wanna know how u guys film it so cleanly in low light. I dont bump my ISO above 500 and keep my aperture at 1.4 but still.....

[@anhellehna6858]

I love your videos so much. I have seen you talking about the cheap Redhead lights in your videos several times. I also watched the video from James Matthews in which he explains the dangerous side of those lights, that if bulb explodes, broken glass tears the protection grille and spills everywhere. I actually wanted to buy one of them but I’m a bit afraid after seeing that video from him. Sure, I know those lights get really hot and even explode in some conditions. But, I also would like to know your experience with those cheap Redheads. Do they really tear the protection in front of the light and spill around, when bulb explodes? Is it safe to use those lights at all (for example stay in front of the light, while it is on) or are they really that dangerous to put the talent in front of them?

[@griptopia]

Very good 3 lamp explanation !! 3d modellers and CGI people need to watch things like this now, as real world lighting now applies to them also.. (it didn't translate back in the day) Lighting the room right hides the limitations of your camera as well, (if your shooting on a budget budget) what did you shoot this scene on purely out of curiosity ? :)

[@Entertainment-ip9kz]

I can’t find the lights on Amazon that he used in the video? Can anyone post some alternatives?

[@SubhadeepGayen]

Great explanation

[@DanielTuriman]

Cool, how about if we do a multiple angle, should it need to adjust a light position?

[@surimakhloga30]

What white balance did you set in this sequence?

[@maximesanchezfilm2904]

Great lightening setup ! I love the result ! Did you felt a big difference with or without the Hoya IR Cut filter ?

[@imxron]

Wow, what an awesome shot! Do you happen to have a video that shows how we can achieve something similar with only two lights? I've been shooting with two for a while. Would you recommend 3 as a good baseline?

[@husseinematic]

So damn good! Thanks man.

[@po9569]

Could you tell where do you get the music from?

[@sonukharb6847]

thanks bro... i have canon 200d , can you suggest me shutter speed and iso for night ?

[@timsup7676]

How do you set your camera bro ?? 📸✨

[@ekinciblack]

hi , your lights look cinematics. but i didnt understand! whats your lights kelvin ? i am use 3000k its be orange, i am use 6500 kelvin its so cold and white!! offf , its very hard bro, plesea help for my shortfilm. i want looks like yours. thanks

[@WondrousSky]

awesome iv been thinking about buying expensive Aputure lights but i dont wanna :b cause their so expensif :O is a soft box any better or difrent than those floppy defusers u set up?

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

A soft box would be pretty similar, even a bit softer if it was double diffused :) if you're using hot lights just make sure to get a heat resistant soft box :D

[@katinar4o]

Titanic fan :)

[@CaffeinatedHiFi]

Every frame a painting

[@eliaslimapro]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@LeoAveiro]

why are you always look so intense in your vids lol great video though!

[@bqgin]

still too expensive for me :/

[@DinkLover69]

Kewl but why use an ugly model?

[@Kerm88]

What do you look like huh?

[@trisv1974]

Framing of your subject is wrong, the photography is bad, distractive.