Day for Night: How to Shoot It

[tbor78]

David-
I'd appreciate your input on DFN photography. Let me start by describing the circumstances as to give you a clear picture of the aesthetic and environment I'll be shooting in hopes of achieving Day for Night. I shot a super 16mm feature in December, and have 2 pick up days, April 23rd & 24th. I'll be shooting Kodak Vision 2 250D. The location is a vast, open prairie with an old locomotive steaming through. Would like to shoot DFN as the train steams across the valley. Am planning on underexposing 2 stops. There is no existing g&e. Since there will be no special illumination on the train on its path through the valley, what can you advise as I prepare to shoot? Also, would you recommend the use of filtration at all, that is outside of the ND filters I'll be using to bring the daylight down to about a 5.6? Thanks again, and hope all is well.
jt gurzi
Congratulations on ASC

 

[David Mullen ASC]

If there is any sky in the shot, a Pola combined with an ND grad would help, unless it is heavily overcast, in which case the Pola wouldn't do much.

I'd tend to only underexpose by a stop and a half and then print down darker if needed in post (I'm always afraid of a thin negative.) But two stops may be fine. Make sure you shoot a normal gray scale or chart for corrected daylight so they see that the filtered shot that follows is darker and bluer in comparison. Plus shoot a sign that says "DAY FOR NIGHT" or something, and write a note on the camera report as well (unless you'll be there for the telecine transfer.)