InCinematographer - Issue 1 - June 2017 - 36

www.incinematographer.com | Issue 1 | June 2017

Zylight and Aladdin Fixtures
Save Shoot in Stormy Weather
Productions often have to work through issues on location and when the weather forced an outdoor shoot
to be moved under cover, flexible lighting came to the rescue of a key interview...
Aladdin BI-FLEX 2 used as a soft fill light

DP Harry Frith used the Zylight F8-200 and Aladdin BI-FLEX 2 when an
outdoor location shoot was forced to move under shelter

P Harry Frith was literally trying to shoot
interview footage outside in the middle of a
monsoon. He was on location last October, in Belize
for an episode of a popular HGTV real estate series,
which usually shoots outside and relies on natural
light and silks for diffusion.
With bad weather on the horizon, the production
was forced to move under shelters. Normally, the
lack of lighting gear would have been a serious
problem. For this episode, however, Frith had packed
two new lights, the Zylight F8-200 LED Fresnel and
Aladdin BI-FLEX 2 flexible LED panel.
"Luckily, we had these lights, which were perfect
to illuminate the characters," Frith said. "Basically,
the lights were a life saver. The network said the
show never looked better, and that's because of the
lighting."
The production crew works at a breakneck pace,
usually shooting each episode in about three days.
Locations can be remote, requiring transportation
with small boats and light aircraft, as well as travel
on foot through mountains, jungles, and other
terrain.
As a result, equipment is kept to a minimum and
the series is shot using a compact Sony XDCAM
camcorder. "The lighter the gear the better," Frith
added. "We have to move quickly to keep ahead of
the weather and get back home safely."
Before the shoot, Frith tested the new lights on
two shoots in more controlled environments. He
said the BI-FLEX 2 was "fantastic" when used to light
an interview in a very small office, while both lights
were used instead of a full lighting kit on the set of a
commercial shoot in Los Angeles.
Despite the successful tests, Frith was doubtful
about the BI-FLEX 2, a 1x2 flexible LED panel,
surviving the trip. "It's so thin, I thought it was going

to break," he said. "But this wafer-thin light survived
the pounding it got going to Belize."
On location, once the monsoon had passed, Frith
used a softbox and diffusor with the BI-FLEX 2 as a
key light in some setups with the daylight-balanced
F8-200 as a back light. For one particular shot, the
BI-FLEX 2 was used to key a light-skinned woman,
while the F8-200 was the key for a much darker man
sitting next to her. "They have enough punch, even in
the daylight, to kick up the look," Frith said. "It gives
it that 'bright sparkle' look that you want for this kind
of show."
Frith said the water-resistant F8-200 is an ideal
replacement for an HMI in the field, because it
travels well, runs on AC power or battery, and does
not require the user to pack spare bulbs. "It's perfect
for locations. The light is very light and very robust,"
he said. "There are so many things you don't have to
worry about. It's the kind of light I've been looking
for forever."
Known as the "Flat Fresnel," the lightweight F8200 collapses to less than five inches thick for easy
transport and storage. Brighter than a 400-watt
HMI, it features a SCHOTT glass lens for traditional
beam shaping, as well as an adjustable beam spread
and spot/flood operations. Aladdin's family of BIFLEX panels is available in three sizes up to 200
watts. All lights are dimmable, offer adjustable color
temperature, allow a variety of mounting options,
and deliver up to 98 CRI.
Founded in 2003, Zylight LLC is the leading
manufacturer and distributor of intelligent
LED lighting instruments for the film and video
production industry. Every model in its easy-to-use
lighting system produces fully calibrated bright
Zylight F8-200 LED Fresnel -
more punch than a 400W HMI

white light, while some also provide a spectrum of
adjustable colors without gels.
Full wireless control and DMX integration are
included, and AC or DC power options are available.
With more than 100 dealers worldwide, Zylight
continues to develop innovative LED lighting
solutions to help make your job easier.
Plus, Zylight is also the exclusive distributor
of select LED light and battery manufacturers
throughout the Americas.
www.zylight.com

http://www.incinematographer.com http://www.zylight.com/aladdin-softlights/ http://www.zylight.com http://www.zylight.com/f8-200-fresnel/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InCinematographer - Issue 1 - June 2017