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(haunting electronic music)

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(gurgling noise)

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(water dripping noises)

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- Savage.

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(upbeat music)

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(marker squeaks)

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- Such tragedy need
not happen on your set.

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More light is not always better.

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It's how you use your light
that helps you tell your story.

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When you're lighting a scene
for a video production,

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you're telling the audience
what to think and feel

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about those characters.

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It's not just about making sure

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the camera can see the subject.

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Most of us were taught
typical three-point lighting.

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Key, fill, and hair light.

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Those are great places to start.

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But what do we do with these lights

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once they're in place?

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Do we crank them up as
high as they can go,

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and melt our poor subjects?

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- [Cameraman] No!

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Just use LEDs!

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- Okay, that may save them from an

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unwanted tan, but will not save your

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sets from unwanted harsh lighting.

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Think of your sets as a blank canvas,

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and light is your paintbrush.

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How you use them will determine

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the feelings and emotions your audience

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has watching for central characters.

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In this interview setup, we have a subject

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who is telling us a personal story

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of triumph over tragedy.

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We want our audience to feel the

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danger as the story unfolds.

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For this, we may want to
use more contrasting light.

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Giving in to deeper shadows adds the aura

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of intrigue and mystery.

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Now, let's say our subject was

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recognized for being the
top volunteer on base.

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She's outgoing, jovial, and we

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want the light to reflect that.

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Let's balance our key and fill more

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to limit shadows.

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Bump up our hair light,

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and reveal our background
with a fourth light.

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We are still keeping the
natural features of her face,

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but now we have a much warmer
environment to relate to.

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Same location, same
subject, different looks

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for different purposes.

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Lighting is an art form, and you

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can spend a lifetime
studying and practicing it.

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But it's also what can make your stories

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stand out from the pack.

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If you are looking to really
understand the science

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behind the art, consider
investing in a light meter.

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Light meters can help you
maintain continuity across

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interviews and help take the guesswork out

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of how to adjust your
lights or camera settings.

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They're also helpful in
understanding your ambient

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lighting when on a location scout.

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If you're shop can't afford a professional

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light meter, consider downloading
a free app on your phone.

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It won't be as accurate as the pro meters,

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but you'll still have more
information than you had before,

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and the best light meter
is the one you have on you.

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For more information on
how to use a light meter,

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and for lighting tips and tricks,

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talk to your supervisor, scour the web,

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and refer to your CDCs.

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Right now, I've got some cleanup to do.

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(mopping noises)

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Such a mess.