FILMMAKING TERMS: DAY-FOR-NIGHT

Imagine shooting a night scene on a sunny day, under cold and bright light. This is what day-for-night filmmaking is all about. Whether you are shooting a black-and-white film or simply want to shoot on film and get those ‘artificial’ and dark, underexposed shadows, this is the method to use.

The artificial flavor is what keeps most filmmakers away from this technique. Typically it is otherwise done late in the afternoon or early in the morning, when shadows are longer and the light better suited for the purpose. A common filmmaking method when shooting day-for-night is to apply a blue filter to simulate moonlight.  It is also of course a method never to shoot the open sky (for obvious reasons).

Why would you shoot day-for-night you may wonder? The answer is simple: Money. To keep expenses low and use up all available daytime many creative filmmaking techniques are used. Nowhere is this more used than inside low budget productions of any scale.

Good luck trying it out!