Corporate lighting

[jamieprank]

Hi there,

I'm doing a corporate gig next week- I'm used to designing rock and roll.. Was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for gels (Lee preferably) to enhance skin tone with the general wash on stage. I have been finding with corporate lighting that people's faces always look a bit less than healthy and grey with parcan temperature light.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received- the main colour scheme for the gig will be blues and lavs..

Cheers in advance..

[jamienip]

Colour correction is a good bet, 204, 205 or 206 etc. Or even 009, 013, 103 . These are fairly common colours to use for a warm wash, alternative colour tones include 136 (lavender) or 147 (apricot).

 

I could waffle on forever, but it would be a good idea for you to find a swatch book, and find something you feel would do the job, I can advise you on what I would use, but it all boils down to personal taste.

[Just Some Bloke]

It all depends on whether the lanterns lighting faces are also lighting set. If they are, you'll have to go with the lavenders of the set (136 as suggested by jamienip perhaps). If not, then you can go for contrast - lavenders on the set (this time you could go deeper if you like - maybe 137 or even 180) and more orangey (205 or 147 maybe) on the faces. If you can get some backlight on the people then you can chose to go with either the set colour, which will tie the person in with the set (e.g. if you want to draw attention to a logo) or a contasting colour, which will make the person stand out more (e.g. if you want to draw attention to the person rather than the background).

[Stu]

I would be inclinded to go with something like 180 on the set (and some backlight in this colour too) then with 154 from the front with either 147 or double 154 from the top if you can sneek it in.

 

I've used this combination before on a musical, which I quite liked come the end of it :)

 

Stu

[Guest lightnix]

Lee 119 is a fairly safe "Conference Blue" for a general wash - it's nice and relaxing to look at and just about any other colour will go with it. Most of the conferences I do get videoed, so Open White tends to the norm for Presenter lighting. I such situations I often use a ¼ CTO in the backlight, to give them a nice, warm "halo". Where there are no cameras involved, a light CTO (again) from the front will "warm them up" a bit, or failing that something like a Lee 152 (Pale Gold) from the onstage side, with a very pale, warm lavender or pink from offstage can do the trick.

 

Word of warning, though: it is almost guaranteed that the Presenter(s) will complain about the lights being "too bright" and that they "can't see the audience". The problem can be minimised by rigging the front lights further out to the sides than you might normally do (although they may splash across the set as a result). One LD I know frequently makes his onstage "front" light a side light instead; it may look a bit weird to us, but the punters don't notice and it generally keeps the speakers happy.

 

I usually let the speakers "have it full blast" when they start rehearsing and drop the front light to around 60% if / when they complain. This satisfies most of them, although there are some who will insist you take it down even more (as low as 35-40% in extreme cases, which makes any gels look a bit "mucky" IMHO, even very pale ones). You can try explaining (politely) that they won't be seen by the audience / register on camera and this may sometimes work (although some corporate speakers can be frightful prima donnas - worse than luvvies and rock stars). Otherwise wait for them to get a minute or two into their speech, then try subtly raising the light levels by about 1-2% per minute over 5-10 minutes. Most of them won't notice :)

[Liquid Nik]

A good old steel / straw crosswash from FOH will work, Lee 013 from 1 side and 063 from the other is good, well it works for me. To augment this try some 152 flat on from from the front. Back light with 363 from the sides and a 156(Chocolate) from USC to fill.