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Lighting

Lighting Modifiers: Building the Perfect Toplight and Key Light Source

Shane Hurlbut working with toplight and key source

Chimera is one of my favorite lighting modifiers, and we are going to go into building one of my favorites, called the pancake. It has amazing control, and you’re able to do a lot of unique applications with this tool. In Fathers and Daughters, I had Russell Crowe’s on set apartment loaded with them for all the hallways, living room, over the dining room table. You name it, there was a pancake there. They are such a smart efficient light.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

You know I love soft light. I like to take light, modify it, diffuse it, waterfall it, and bounce it. I’m not the biggest fan of taking a bare Fresnel and bashing it onto a face. There’s time when that can work for the emotion of a story, but most of the time I’m trying to diffuse that source and make it look as creamy as possible.

Let’s Build this BABY!!!

Building the Chimera Pancake is a lot like building a tent. First, you’re going to spread out your tools in front of you. I’ve got some help from my son Myles.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Spreading out our tools

Then, take one of the metal wires and place it into one of the golden rods.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Placing the metal wires into a golden rod

Once that’s set. Lock that gold rod in.

Note you need to tighten the end indicated by the arrow.

Note you need to tighten the end indicated by the arrow.

Repeat putting the metal wires into the gold pieces, and then locking the gold pieces in with all four sides.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Locking in the last gold piece

This is what the Chimera pancake looks like now.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Note all four metal wires have been locked in with the gold pieces and attached.

Now comes the magic. Put one hand on top and one on the bottom and push the ends together until you hear the frame click and lock together.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice the position of my hands.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Pushing the ends together

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

The pancake locked after pushing the ends together

Now this pancake is ready for a light bulb. Myles hands me a bulb, but notice how his fingers don’t touch the glass. Oils on your fingers shorten the life of the bulb.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice Myles’s fingers aren’t touching the glass. Hand oils shorten the life of the bulb.

Now screw the bulb into the center.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Screwing the bulb into the center

If you want to use a standard household bulb, they come with mogul adapters that screw into the light itself.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice the common household bulb.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Mogul adapter turns it into a regular household fixture.

Now it’s time for the pancake cloth.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Myles brings in the pancake cloth.

Place the pancake cloth over the frame. You have to line up the zippers with the wires for the pancake cloth to fit correctly.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice the zipper is over the rod.

The final rod is always the difficult one to slip the cloth over. To get the rod in, unlock the corresponding lock at the base. Then push the rod into the pancake cover. Once the pancake cover is completely on, lock the lock that was unlocked.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Unlocking the corresponding lock at the base.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Pushing the rod into the pancake cover

Then relock the base where you unlocked it, and close the zippers.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Closing the zippers

This is what the pancake looks like flipped over.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Top down view of the medium pancake

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Medium pancake

Now we are going to put side flaps on to this medium pancake. To do that, we need a C-Stand. Set a C-Stand and then extend the arm out.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Extending the gobo arm

Then screw in the Chimera clamp to the c-stand and tighten the knob on the Chimera clamp.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Chimera clamp attached to c-stand. Tighten the knob indicated by the arrow.

Then raise your c-stand up.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Raising the C-stand

Make sure all pieces on the Chimera clamp are lined up on one side.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice all pieces are lined up on the right side.

Then attach the Chimera base knob into the Chimera clamp and tighten the knob on the other side.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Notice the Chimera gets inserted into the Chimera clamp.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Inserting the Chimera into the clamp and tightening the clamp

The amazing thing about this clamp is that it allows you to move and tilt the Chimera for all sorts of unique lighting applications.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Adjusting the Chimera clamp

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Tilting the Chimera with the Chimera clamp

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Bringing the Chimera back to its original position

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Tilting the Chimera back with the Chimera clamp

Now that the clamp is in place, we attach our side flaps.

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Myles holding the side flaps to the Chimera

Chimera Pancake Cinematography filmmaker film movies tv shooting DP lights

Attaching the side flaps around the Chimera

The Chimera has Velcro on top of the black side. Attach the Velcro of the side flaps to the four Velcro spots of the Chimera to secure the side flaps.

Attaching the Chimera flaps to the Chimera by putting the four Velcro sides together

Attaching the Chimera flaps to the Chimera by putting the four Velcro sides together

Using the Chimera as a Top Light

We raise the Chimera up and fly it over Myles. It creates a beautiful top light, and the light is contained on Myles because of the side flaps. We don’t have light flying all over the place. It stays on Myles.

Notice that the light is concentrated on Myles.

Notice that the light is concentrated on Myles.

I use these top lights because they make the perfect 360 degree shot maker. I can come all the way around the talent and there aren’t any shadows that fall onto them. Also, the light still has nice contrast and nice shape.

Notice that as I walk around Myles, I’m not creating any shadows on him. The light on Myles still has nice contrast and shape.

Notice that as I walk around Myles, I’m not creating any shadows on him. The light on Myles still has nice contrast and shape.

Even from the other side, I’m still not creating any shadows that fall on Myles.

Even from the other side, I’m still not creating any shadows that fall on Myles.

The side flaps of the Chimera also have the ability to fold onto themselves, so if Miles steps to his left:

Indicating Myles will step to his left

Indicating Myles will step to his left

You can unzip the side flaps, and roll the flap onto itself.

Rolling the side flap onto itself

Rolling the side flap onto itself

Then we can rotate the Chimera so that the rolled up flap side faces toward Myles. This gives him a little more light on his right side.

Aiming the open flap at Myles to give him more light on his right side.

Aiming the open flap at Myles to give him more light on his right side.

Notice that the light still isn’t flying all over the place because the flaps shape the light perfectly.

The light stays concentrated because of the side flaps.

The light stays concentrated because of the side flaps.

Using the Chimera as a Key Light

Top lights are awesome, but that’s not the only thing this baby does. You can use this as a beautiful, creamy key light. We lower the light and angle the open side onto Myles. Then I unroll the flap we had rolled up from before, and we have a concentrated key light. The flaps help keep the light controlled so that light isn’t flying all over the place.

Notice that I aim the light at Myles, making it a key light.

Notice that I aim the light at Myles, making it a key light.

Notice the unrolled flap and the controlled key light on Myles.

Notice the unrolled flap and the controlled key light on Myles.

Comparing the Chimera Pancake to the China Ball

Let’s see how the china ball does when we compare it to the Chimera Pancake. We bring a china ball in and bring it up to 120% on the dimmer.

China ball light. Notice how the light is less controlled.

China ball light. Notice how the light is less controlled.

All videos were edited on HP Z840 workstations using HP Z24x DreamColor monitors.

The china ball works as a good key light, but there’s a lot less light control. There’s light flying all over the place. If you put this in a small room, interview style, you’re going to be trying to flag this thing with black bedsheets and anything you can use to try and control this light so that it doesn’t bounce all over your walls.

Different Sizes for the Chimera Pancake

The Chimera Pancake comes in three different sizes. Check out the sizing chart from Chimera’s site, which lists the sizes of the Chimera in inches and centimeters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Chimera Pancake:
● Is easy to assemble.
● Has adjustable side flaps that allow you to shape and control your light so that light is contained and not bouncing all over the room.
● Comes in three sizes, small, medium, or large.
● Can be used as a top light, which is great for a 360 degree shot.
● Can be used as a key light.

Here’s where you can buy the Chimera Pancake:
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September 16, 2015/by Shane Hurlbut, ASC
Tags: C-Stand, Chimera, Cinematographer, Cinematography, Cinematography Online, Film, Fluorescent lamp, HP, Incandescent light bulb, Key Light Source, Light, light source, lighting, Lighting Modifiers, Matthews Studio Equipment, Musicbed, Perfect Toplight, Russell Crowe, Top light, Toplight
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https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/image0014-1-1.jpg 535 957 Shane Hurlbut, ASC https://www.filmmakersacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Filmmakers-Academy-Filmmaking-Courses.svg Shane Hurlbut, ASC2015-09-16 10:04:422022-02-10 17:26:26Lighting Modifiers: Building the Perfect Toplight and Key Light Source
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11 replies
  1. Robert S
    Robert S says:
    September 16, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    This looks interesting and the prices seems affordable. The specs say a maximum of 400 watts of “hot light”. I assume that means tungsten. What other lamps might you put into this? Perhaps a multi-socket with several CLF lamps or LED lamps.

    Thanks for bringing this fixture to our attention.

    • Shane
      Shane says:
      September 16, 2015 at 4:21 PM

      You can put up to a 2k tungsten globe into their sockets. They are very impressive, incredibly bright and deliver light control.

  2. Brad T
    Brad T says:
    September 16, 2015 at 3:20 PM

    Great post! I love the posts on different lighting and lighting fixtures. I recently ran into a situation for a music video shoot where I would’ve killed for 2 of these as I was trying for soft light for 2 people spaced 8 ft apart where it wasn’t going to throw light all over the wall behind them. I ended up using a medium chimera with egg crate with decent results, but 2 of these would’ve been miles better. These seem like they would be great in small rooms. Thanks for the info, great article!

    • Shane
      Shane says:
      September 19, 2015 at 3:37 PM

      Thank you so much of your kind words Brad. Yes, these babies are a powerful light with many applications for a very cheap price.

  3. Jack W
    Jack W says:
    September 16, 2015 at 4:48 PM

    I’ve been meaning to get one of these for sometime…Blackwrapping china balls on set gets a bit tedious… This may seal the deal for me! Quick question – what is the unit that is attached to the household bulb? I’m assuming that attaches to the chimera rods as well?
    Thanks for the post!

    • Shane
      Shane says:
      September 19, 2015 at 3:37 PM

      Yes, that aluminum 4 prong fixture is where you can put a household bulb in with an adapter or one of the Chimera bulbs. I updated the post with all the links to the specific bulbs and fixtures.

  4. Brad Neff
    Brad Neff says:
    September 17, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/168155-REG/Chimera_5510_Mogul_Base_Lamp.html/pageID/accessory.

    Hi, just wanted to pass along one of the base options for holding the bulb and robs. Based on my talk with B&H this morning.

    Great blog post and site.

  5. Carlos Miranda
    Carlos Miranda says:
    October 18, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    Shane:
    I have used the Chimera pancake— the original lightbulb housing with the mogul bulb adaptor you showed first for sixteen years and it is the best key light to go for though situations when camera mobility is required and no light stand is desired in the shot. I love it!
    Yet, for 16 years I have been connecting the wireframe the wrong way: wires to the wider holes on the rods no the tips, what an idiot!
    Thank you for correcting the errors of my way!

    That’s why I keep coming back to your site, to be educated!
    Best wishes,
    Carlos.

    • Shane
      Shane says:
      November 1, 2015 at 7:46 AM

      Thank you so much Carlos. I laughed out loud when I saw this.

  6. Benton C
    Benton C says:
    November 7, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    In the bulb you’re using, doesn’t its external protective glass cover, which isolates the separate internal bulb, help to greatly reduce the sensitivity to hand oils that can reduce the lifespan in other bulbs that do not have this type of protective cover?

  7. Cinematic J
    Cinematic J says:
    December 7, 2016 at 4:14 AM

    Master Miles. Nice video

Comments are closed.

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