As part of the Working Professional series, AbelCine has partnered with Peter Stein to present Lighting for Drama. Using light to create a “look” embodies principles that remain constant in every format and with all technologies. To shape light and create drama will enhance your story. Whether on a small independent project shot with a DSLR, or a handy cam; a studio production shot on film, or with the latest High Def equipment, the principles of good lighting remain the same. We will learn the basic elements of lighting, how to combine them and when to use them. This will be demonstrated in real lighting situations, so that class participants will be able to approach their own projects with a firm grasp on using light to full advantage.

Overview

Lighting for Drama will take the following into consideration:

• Approaching a project as a lighting DP
• Review of basic lighting setups
• Quality of light – hard light compared to soft light. Why and when to use each type, and the problems involved with shaping them
• The use of fresnels and open face lights
• Cutting lights: use of barn doors, extending barn doors, placing nets and flags to help control and shape the light
• Placement of key light
• Lighting ratios
• Background lighting
• Motivated light
• Making a scene more dramatic
• Use of color
• Fluorescent lighting
• Lighting an interview – (If time permits)

About the Instructor

Director of Photography on over 50 feature films, TV movies, and documentaries and member of the American Society of Cinematographers, Peter Stein has photographed classic cult films in the genres of comedy and horror, major studio releases, independent films, and noted documentaries. He has taught at SUNY Purchase and The School of Visual Arts, lectured on cinematography at many of the area’s universities and has been on the NYU graduate faculty since 2002 where he now serves as Head of Production.  Currently he is producing and directing a documentary film for American Public Television about his father, the noted photographer Fred Stein. Visit Peter's IMDB page and website for a detailed filmography.