Pattern projections are another way to cast creative and beautiful shadows. Gobos come in either metal or glass and can project elaborate shadows, as well as colors, on your background. You will need a special lighting instrument to use these creative tools, but, if you find yourself in the position where you need to create a variety of backgrounds, they are a great way to accomplish this task with minimal effort.

If you have access to a theatre leko or ellipsoidal, you can create your own gobo by carefully cutting out a pattern in the metal from a soda can. Make sure you burn the metal to remove any of the label paint. Carefully slide the metal into the slide groove of the lighting instrument, shine the light on the part of the set where you want the shadow projected and focus the lens. You can adjust the focus to sharpen or diffuse the shadow. This type of projection is often used with colored gels to create a dappled forest effect, a company logo or some other shadow effect. While this is an inexpensive way to create a gobo, make sure you keep an eye on it, so that it doesn't get too hot.

Shadows can also be cast across your talent's face. Using a piece of window screen on a frame, tie some strips of black cloth to the screen to create an irregular mottled pattern. Slowly move the screen in front of your light to create a sense of movement - clouds, leaves, branches, whatever the script calls for. Remember, if the screen is held close to the light, the shadow will be very soft and filmy. The closer you get to the talent, the sharper the images and more dramatic the dappling.

Knowing how and when to cast the perfect shadow is often the key to good lighting. Practice using the techniques we have described here, and place your shadows so that they create the most dramatic effect. Shadows and light are the key to great video. Practice, experiment and enjoy the end result.

The Shadow Knows
Always remember - everything that is solid casts a shadow. Do you really need to see the gun or will its shadow do? Would the profile of a man with a hat be more dramatic than actually seeing the man? Use the rules for shadows to create sharp images, and you can turn up the heat in any drama.

Home Grown Cookies
See March 2005 issue of Videomaker to create your own cookies from our pre-made templates for more shadow tossing.