Handling existing lighting features in a location aka “practicals” just became easier with Aputure’s launch of the new B7c bulb (formerly called the “RC”) designed to turn consumer lamps into light sources suitable for professional TV and Film. I took the Aputure B7c bulb into the field for several projects and the full writeup is below. One of the first things the gaffer team and I do when we arrive at a “real” (as opposed to studio) location is we change out any existing bulbs. Over time home owners and renters change out dying or dead bulbs and they morph into a mishmash of different brands and different color temperatures and the results are pretty ugly on-camera. In the past we would simply have a few high CRI consumer bulbs and swap them to allow for dimming and, at the very least, a consistent look to all the practical lamps in a scene. Internal batteries! Image Credit: Graham Sheldon Where things start to become tricky is with dimming or color control from bulb to bulb or with a “gag”. For our purposes I’m defining a “gag” as a flickering light in a horror film or a short circuiting source on a spaceship etc. Every gaffer has their own tricks for accomplishing the above and occasionally a gag might require hiding in an uncomfortable spot just out of the shot — not ideal. The B7c bulb in action on both sides of the frame. Image Credit: Graham Sheldon, Copyright: Nerdist.com The...
Published By: CineD - Tuesday, 29 September, 2020