Working with a small crew or on a tight budget (or both!) can really limit the amount of equipment that you can utilize on set. Finding quick and versatile gear is a big priority to keep the shoot running smoothly while also capturing quality content. For this short video, our crew of only 3 people used only flexible LED mats and modifiers to create cinematic lighting for a short horror film. This short film was shot in only one evening at a remote cabin in Ohio, with only one c-stand, and limited power.

Each scene in our film utilized only two Flex LED mats, Flex Cine Wireless DMX Dimmers, and v-mount batteries. These versatile light sources allowed us to create a variety of different looks with just one style of light, instead of needing to acquire and setup fresnels, fluorescent tube-style lights, hard LED panels, or more.

We outlined each of our lighting setups below!

Interior Scene Lighting Setups

For our interior scenes downstairs, we wanted to create very warm and moody lighting. We also needed to light for the motion of our character. For our dining room scene, we placed a Flex 1×1′ Bi-Color Mat inside a Flex China Cube and hung it from the rafters inside the cabin.

Flex 1×1′ Bi-Color in Flex China Cube

We set the color temperature to about 2800K to match the practical lighting and used the drum’s flags to eliminate unwanted light spill on the walls.

Flex 2×2′ Bi-Color on Cine Frame with Hard Diffusion

To simulate the appearance of moonlight coming through the windows, we placed a Flex 2×2′ Bi-Color (set at 6000K) softened by a Hard Diffuser on a Cine Frame on a c-stand just outside of the front windows.

Flex 1×2′ RGBW Gaffed to a Window

To simulate moonlight for the bedroom scene, we simply gaffed a Flex 1×2′ RGBW Mat set to a cool blue tone in the skylight above the bed.

Click to enlarge screenshots of the final film below. 

Interior Car Lighting Setup

For our car scene, we needed to recreate moonlight to add atmosphere while also illuminating our ghostly subject in the back seat. To do this, we utilize our largest Flex bi-color mat set at 6000K and mounted it about 2-feet behind a 4×4′ scrim with 1-1/4 diffusion fabric.

Flex 2×2′ Bi-Color on Cine Frame Behind Scrim Jim Cine 4×4′ 1-Stop Diffuser

The large, soft light source allowed us to light the entire length of the car, with light spilling into the back seat and highlighting both subjects.

Flex 1×1′ Bi-Color in the Sunroof

To keep the focus on our main subject, we added a key light to better light her face. We simply placed a Flex 1×1′ Bi-Color mat set at around 3000K on top of the sun roof. Then we open the sun roof door a few inches to flag the light off of the car interior.

Click to enlarge screenshots of the final film below. 

Exterior Scene Lighting Setups

For our exterior scene, we really only needed to recreate moonlight just enough that our subject was visible on-camera. We moved our Flex 2×2′ Bi-Color mat powered by a v-mount battery from scene to scene.

Flex 2×2′ Bi-Color on Cine Frame with Hard Diffusion

In the fire pit shelter scene, recreate fire lighting in that scene, we needed to recreate the look of fire. So, we placed a Flex 1xx2′ RGBW mat inside the pit set and set the dimmer to WiFi control. Then, we used the Luminair app to flicker the intensity and hue of the mat between red and orange.

Flex 1×2′ RGBW in a Fire Pit

Additionally, our character’s flashlight was a key part of lighting in many of our outdoor shots. This practical light helped stylize and add interest in these scenes.

Click to enlarge screenshots of the final film below. 

Dream Scene Lighting

For our final scene, we wanted to create a very unrealistic dream-like setting for our character’s nightmare scene. To create this look, we moved into the woods outside the cabin and bunjee-d one Flex 1×1′ RGBW light to a tree.

Flex 1×1′ RGBW Strapped to a Tree

Then, we had a crew member handhold another Flex RGBW and follow our subject with it. We used the Flex Cine Dimmer’s built-in LEE filters to create a very vibrant, colorful scene. We used the Flex Cine Dimmer’s built-in LEE filters to create a very vibrant, colorful scene.

Watch the trailer for the short film here.

Lighting Gear in Action