Chapter Three | CompositionBeyond the Basics 89

subject but not exactly opposite to the camera lens it is often called a kicker or a rim
lighthighlighting the edges of the hair, shoulders, and sometimes the jaw bone. For
the most standard approach to the three-point lighting method, however, you should
start with your key light roughly 45 degrees away from camera (left or right) and the ll
light about 45 degrees around the other side of camera. Of course, this could all change
according to your creative needs or whims.

Most light sources in the real world, and subsequently in the lm world, come from
above and slightly away. This generally holds true because light that comes from
directly above (top lighting) will cause the brow ridges on most faces to block the light
from the eye sockets. By keeping the eyes of the character in deep shadow you are tak-
ing away one very important way for the audience to relate to the character. Conversely,
if you light from below, you are creating a rather unnatural lighting effect, as very few
lights actually exist below the level of our heads in daily life. As a result of this under-
lighting, the structure of the human face takes on a scary or ghoulish appearance and,
therefore, is often used in horror lms. If you only illuminate the background of your set
and leave your talents face in darkness (with no ll light) and you expose for the well-

Basic Character Lighting: Three Point Method

lit background, you will create what is called the silhouette effect (Figure 3.29).

FIGURE 3.29 Examples of front, side, kicker, top, under, and silhouette lighting.