Filmmaking 101: Lighting Continuity

Stay tuned to the end for a chance to win a prize!

If you’re a filmmaker, you’ve probably heard of continuity. This is something that you have to be aware of when you’re shooting and editing to make sure the props or wardrobe in a scene are consistent. But lighting continuity is equally important. This refers to the way the lighting on someone’s face changes or remains the same throughout a scene. Today on 4 Minute Film School we’re going to light a scene and show you how we think about light continuity as we shoot.

In this video, Valentina from the A-Team will walk you through lighting a three-setup scene with a wide shot and two over the shoulder shots. First she sets up the wide shot using a combination of existing light in the space as well as artificial lighting. As the master shot of the scene, this will influence the look of the other shots. Next she pushes in on one of the actors for an over the shoulder shot. For this shot she is able to adjust the lighting in order to present the actor more cinematically. Lastly, she shoots a reverse angle of the other actor. Because she’s flipping the scene, she has to take special note of the lighting in order to keep it consistent.

The main aspects addressed in this video are existing light, key light, and sweetening. Existing light is any light that was present on your location before you added anything. This could be natural light, but it could also be light coming from a sign or something else that is permanently part of the set. The key light is the main light source lighting the subject in the scene. Because it’s the main light source, you need to make sure that the key light stays consistent throughout the scene. Sweetening refers to adjusting the lighting when you push in for a close-up. This is an important step because you want the actors to look their best when we see their faces close up.

You can shoot a scene a million different ways, but no matter what look you decide on, you need to make sure it doesn’t change throughout the scene. Having inconsistent lighting is any easy way to distract your viewer and pull them out of the experience. With just a few simple principles, you can ensure that all of the shots in your scene will match no matter when and where you shoot them.

0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Lighting a Master Shot
3:21 - Sweetening The Close-Up
6:28 - Shooting a Reverse Shot
8:19 - Lighting Breakdown
9:25 - Recap
10:00 - Closing

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Aputure's YouTube channel provides free high-quality cinematography, lighting, and filmmaking educational content to help you take your film projects to the next level.

[aputurelighting]

What's the worst continuity mistake that you've ever seen? It doesn't have to be lighting related. Comment below describing it for a chance to win an Aputure M9!

[productionssnowland]

So much information in that 10 minutes. I'll have to watch it again! Thank you for another great video!

[bro_liv]

That's actually a useful video more than just an ad for Aputure, well done!

[PavlaVankova]

Loved this video! Finally a practical tutorial about a real shooting scene with a deep explanation. Please more of these videos like this one!

[smokermarine]

Looking good Vee! Also best episode yet, thank you!

[DanielTuriman]

I like this girl how they explain about the light.

[theGUEZtube]

Definitely one of the coolest parts of this to me was the ping light going straight into the lens. Would never think to do something like that but it's such a cool effect!

[danferraro]

You are such an amazing teacher. This channel is incredible.

[mattesteron]

Amazing video, guys!!! The use of a lens flare to stylize every shot was genius! This is going into my favorites list!

[MarkHoltze]

What a fantastic tutorial and demonstration Vee. Loaded with good info.

[stevenkralovec]

Worst continuity mistake I’ve seen, at 8:59 Valentina is not wearing a mask, then is in the close up, then isn’t again in the next shots 😜 Haha jk, I’m sure there’s been worse continuity mistakes in history.
I think a hilarious (intentional) continuity error is in Scott Pilgrim vs the World when Scott’s hat magically appears on his head when theres any comments about his hair being shaggy. 😂

[amadeusmphoto]

Valentina's been losing weight! You go girl

[busternineshoes]

I'm a stills photographer but still found this fascinating. Well done young lady.

[SeriousGuy]

I love how the actors freeze while she is talking

[dantodd]

Loved this! More of this please, Valentina! Also, that guy in the diner looks like a hot(ter) Weird Al.

[ratt]

Thanks very much for this tutorial! I've never seen a light shining into a camera lens before, the way you used the MX... I'd like to see another video showing the results of placing it like that. It's difficult to see where to actually place it in relation to the camera lens in this video.

[anastasopoulos]

The reflection of the lens flare light is actually visible

[JonJOn]

Pretty tight! Lots of good pro tips and ideas, thanks for the knowledge.

[srloaiza]

I love your Acting Valentina 😊 jk, All you guys are doing such an amazing work for real, I really aprecciate it. Much love from Colombia

[ScribblebytesWorldwide]

They literally built a whole diner! Awesome!