While lighting can seem like the great mystery of cinema, a huge part of lighting happens on screen, right in front of everyone’s eyes and that is blocking.
I'm Owen Hamilton, a director of photography in Charleston, and I'm here to help NextLens filmmakers.
Where the characters are in relation to the environment, each other, and the camera creates the motivation for lighting. Try exploring what light sources are present in the scene and what kind of lighting those sources would motivate.
Blocking scenes around windows and existing light sources gives you the opportunity to take an idea and run with it. A lot can be done with practical lighting, especially for filmmakers starting out with lower budgets.
Practical lights are sources already in the scene—lamps, overhead lighting, windows. They complement production lighting sources. Use the set to your advantage and place practical lights in ways that add dimension and natural motivation for your lighting.
Learn more about how to submit your film to the 2026 NextLens Online Film Festival.
