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FilmSkool — a free film school

Lighting for Film: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Luc Ung covers the core vocabulary and setups of film lighting: key, fill, back light, motivation, and the difference between hard and soft sources. He builds from single-light setups to more complex arrangements over the runtime.

Luc Ung · 27 min · Beginner · LGT · Lighting · 2025

What you take away

Practice building a scene's lighting one source at a time, naming each light's job before adding the next.

Watch it

Filed under

Films to study for light

Books on lighting

Kit for this lesson

Rosco Cinegel filter pack — CTB, CTO, diffusion — the colours a set runs on
Aputure MT Pro — A pocket pixel tube
Aputure F10 Barndoors — Cuts the spill off a Fresnel — the cheapest control there is
Aputure MC Pro — Pocket RGBWW — an eye light that fits in a pocket
Aputure Light Dome Mini III — The Dome for small rooms and small fixtures
Neewer 5-in-1 reflector, 42" — The cheapest light on any set

More Lighting

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Filmmaking Lighting Masterclass: Xenon Light | Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 18m · Advanced
How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 1: Setting Up Your Key Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 15m · Intermediate
How To Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC - Part 3: Lighting Secrets — Filmmakers Academy · 13m · Advanced
How to Light a Night Scene with Shane Hurlbut ASC [Part 2: Matching Urban Light] — Filmmakers Academy · 14m · Intermediate
Film Lighting Techniques that will Boost Your Cinematography with Shane Hurlbut, ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 16m · Intermediate
Lighting & Filming Darker Skin Tones with ARRI Signature Primes — B&H Photo Video Pro Audio · 12m · Intermediate
The Easy Way to Not Suck at Lighting — Luc Forsyth · 31m · Intermediate
How to Light a Cinematic Scene with Only Natural Light — Filmmakers Academy · 11m · Intermediate
Hollywood VS Indie Filmmaking (With Shane Hurlbut, ASC) — Brady Bessette · 19m · Intermediate
Diffusing Can Lights | Cinematography Tips with Shane Hurlbut ASC — Filmmakers Academy · 9m · Intermediate
How to Shoot Day For Night | Cinematic Lighting 101 — Aputure · 9m · Intermediate

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