Cinematic Interview Lighting in TINY Spaces

Here’s a tight, step‑by‑step recap of “Cinematic Interview Lighting in TINY Spaces (Pro Secrets)”:

1. The Tight‑Space Challenge
   Shooting interviews in cars, closets or cramped offices means you can’t haul huge softboxes or boom stands—so you need an ultra‑portable kit and some tricks to make it feel cinematic.

2. Minimalist Kit Rundown

   • Bi‑color LED panels (mini 1×1 or tubes) with hyper‑local dimming

   • Small bounce boards (white cards or silver reflectors)

   • Diffusion gels/scrims (to soften harsh LEDs)

   • Clamps & suction mounts (for doors, ceilings, railings)

   • Battery power (V‑mounts, USB packs or NP‑F)

3. Key­-Light Strategies

   • Bounce your LED off a white surface (roof of car, closet wall) to wrap light softly around your subject.

   • If you only have a bare panel, flag half the beam with a black card and diffuse the other half for a moody edge.

4. Controlling Fill & Contrast

   • Use a small reflector or another LED at a fraction of your key’s output to fill shadows—keep it dim so you retain depth.

   • For more drama, deploy negative fill: stick a black foam board opposite your key to deepen shadows and give “pop.”

5. Rim & Separation

   • A tiny backlight (tube or panel tucked just out of frame) adds a hair‑light rim—essential in busy backgrounds like car seats or cramped bookcases to help your subject stand out.

6. Practical Scenarios

   • Car interior: Clamp a mini 1×1 to the headrest or window frame, bounce off the ceiling, flag off the windshield glare.

   • Closets/Small Rooms: Open the door for camera placement, rig your lights on hanging rods or attach to the door jamb.

   • Hallways & Corridors: Bounce through a doorway or use a small tube light overhead—avoid spill on walls to keep background clean.

7. Framing & Lens Choice

   • Push your camera close (24–35 mm on full‑frame) to maximize space, then use shallow depth of field (wide aperture) to blur distracting surroundings.

8. Power & Rigging Hacks

   • Run panels off USB battery packs hidden in your pocket or inside a console.

   • Use multi‑function clamps to anchor lights anywhere—tripod legs, door handles, shelf edges.

9. Putting It All Together

   • Scout your tiny location, plan for one key, one fill/rim combo, and one practical (ambient) source.

   • Balance your LEDs and bounce so each eye has a clean, controlled catchlight—your secret weapon for making cramped interviews look big and cinematic.