Tricks of the Trade

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Ron Garcia, ASC

I am becoming an addict of HMI and Tungsten Helium balloons, they are such a beautiful light--either in HMI or Tungsten. You can send them up in the air if you need a contrast reducer or pull them down to four feet off the ground for a soft key light.

I was shooting part of a feature in Las Vegas and the scene took placeat the main registration desk of the MGM Grand Hotel. The lead actor had to walk from outside, through the main entrance, and over to a multi-mediarear projected video wall behind the desk. Having worked in Vegas before,I knew the hassles of laying any kind of cable or stingers in a never-closing, never-empty place of business. To make matters worse, we had a very tight time limit: we were allowed into the lobby at 4 AM to shoot at 5 AM and be out by 6 AM. So I used my first 6 foot 4K Tungsten balloon. During the 180 degree shot, the gaffer, John Buckley, walked the balloon alongside the dolly — just far enough to give a slight key without looking 'lit.' Using the balloon as my only source light, we kept the cable run to one line and nothing else! We got what the director wanted and were out in plenty of time.