I built 3 of these bad boys 2 years ago when I got into filming documentary interviews. I've shipped them from Florida to Oklahoma, Texas, New York and Connecticut. They don't look like $10,000 dollar lights, but with diffusers and gels they get the job done. People hire you based on your work, not what your lights look like. This is my all time favorite diy video ever. Thank you Griffin!

You rock! I built two of them (I figured two is as easy as one!) and they just about blinded me. Great project. I spent a few hours down at the local recycle yard and cut the costs in half...Two for the price of one. Thank you for your creativity that we can all tap into! Next the pseudo telepromtr!

Just completed this build. Works fantastic!!! To anyone looking to do this don't hesitate. I opted for an extension cord instead of just an AC power cable. I got a 50 foot one at Home Depot for 12 bucks and cut it in half giving me a 25 foot cord to plug in as well as extra wire to work with when connecting the sockets together. Also missing from the supplies list was a clamp connector (where the AC cable enters into the dish pan). I luckily had one lying around. Another word of advice, before using silicone to adhere the sockets to the cake pan, screw in the splitters to be sure of a tight fit. The build was a little time consuming but well worth it.

Griffin, thanks so much! I used your design as a starting point, then tried a few upgrades while staying under $86 per light. I used 609-box sockets, which attached to the pans without the need for silicone. This was actually cheaper, which meant I could use a 2-switch design to bring the head to half-power. I used flat black spray paint instead of gaff for the barn doors. Finally, I upgraded the bulbs to full spectrum CFLs, though the bulbs were definitely a splurge by $66 for 2 lights.

This reminds me of Bill Nye the Science guy with a mix of Alton Brown's Good Eats for Indy studio equipment. Love it! Great info, great explanations, and entertaining.

I can't stress enough how important it is to say the names of the things you use in this kind of video (this particular vid was informative). I have looked many times for basic light bulb holders. Usually you can buy "clamp lights" but I'm in the UK and they barely exist. I just found what I'm looking for is called an E27 holder, and suddenly I can find everything I need with the right keyword.

That's awesome that someone else built the teleprompter! Thanks for the feedback-I'll look for ways to get this info out in future episodes.

I'm using the new light as a key, the old DIY light for fill, and the clamp light for back light. The color temp is usually listed in fine print on the bulb packaging. Sometimes they'll label them like "soft white" to mean 2,700K, "bright white" to mean 3,500K, and "daylight" to mean 5,000K and above. But all brands are labeled differently. I bought my Eiko SP85 (giant CFL) on Amazon.

this is basically the greatest thing ever. Thank you for the tutorial!

When you mount the post socket to the plastic bucket, it's best to use a plate, or series of fender washers on the side with the nut, to prevent it from tearing during use.

OK I just made two of these today, and here's a few notes. 1) I was able to stay pretty close to his price. I built two for about $180 2) Silicone sealant does a horrible job. The sockets stay in place, but once you twist the splitter, the seal breaks. You have to twist VERY gently. There has to be a better way to secure the sockets. 3) The $4 pan is at WalMart 4) The flag pole holder needs more reinforcement. I'm thinking of using a long hard plastic. 5) Gloves or tetanus, your choice.

I know the video is about light, but I couldn't help but notice how good-- and consistent-- your audio is.

Can you list your shopping list under your videos? It would help :) Thanks for the great info!

Yes, all of the electrical stuff from Home Depot. Cake pan from Dollar General. Dish pan from Wal-mart.

As a new viewer to the "Griffin era," if you will. Not seeing "SUPER TIME LAPSE." A single tear was shed.

You do such a great job of choosing components that have necessary features built right in. Using a pan with a cover to enclose the wiring is brilliant.

It's a great project, but I have to say Kelvin is not measured in degrees! Color temperature and actual temperature in Kelvin is just some number of Kelvin. E.G. My favorite color temperature is 5,000 K - that would be read as "5,000 Kelvin" with no "degrees." My ranting about that aside, I like the approach. I might also recommend using large, metal salad bowls for building more focused lights. They all tend to be shaped very closely to an ideal parabolic reflector. Also, for a less-severe diffuser, screen mesh works quite well at knocking just a bit off the edges of shadows without reducing light output a perceptible amount. Plus, if you get the old-fashioned metal variety, it's heat-resistant enough that it gets used in the traditional 2K (That's 2,000 watts of incandescent bulb!) fresnels you might see in a television studio.

why not use super bright white led strips? cheaper, brighter, less heat, more compact, less power usage. hard to spot a down side.

For me, it started with weddings, which usually start with friends' weddings (for cheap or free). Once people start seeing that you can produce nice-looking videos, they start thinking of you for other projects. The project that really jump-started my freelance career was a big training video for the business where my wife works. So you have to showcase your best work, and use your connections to open up opportunities. You never really know where the best opportunities will come from.

Thank you...you have just taught your viewers so much in just one DIY vid.. about light, bulbs, white balance, safety with power and CFLs etc. Subscribed immediately

1 100w led = job done

Can you sell these? I'd buy one ;~;

There's nothing wrong with your awesome enthusiasm!

See "this" is all we've been asking for. A return back to the old style of BFX and Griffin you did a great job with it.

use LED's instead, less electricity, bigger/smaller bulb = more happy

Also great for growing weed

This was probably the best tutorial I've ever seen. I didn't understand the way lighting works until he explained. My film teacher sucks!

fells good to see someone do electrical work and using reasonable thinking! recently, i came across a video, where someone else made a similar design and didn't connect the ground to the aluminium pan..

remake the video with leds or new bulbs

Why dont you just make a bunch of them and sell them because this isnt diy

gr8 build and i just loved the way you explained light temperatures. I follow (almost) all of your videos, the explaining done in this one takes the trophy in my view.

Thanks for this, I just finished my build and WOAHNELLY it is SUPER BRIGHT!

this show design is amazing! love all of the different cuts, and comparison shots. makes it really easy to understand why you would actually want to make this light! and i do!! thank you Griffin.... thank you

Thank you for speaking slowly and clearly. Thank you for explaining EVERY step in depth, including the electrical business. Thank you for the video, and a great design.

This is fantastic! I really appreciate you taking the time to make this!

I love it, it just looks so simple, yet elegantly useful. When I get the spare change together, I think I will have to build these.

Agreed. The work is more important, but sometimes appearances help. (For example, putting a boom mic on top of a DSLR helps people understand you're shooting video-so they stop posing for photos.) But often I find clients have no idea what a video light or a teleprompter SHOULD look like. If you explain that you use custom-built equipment, it can convey your expertise.

Not only an excellent, well designed project which produces great light, this is a wonderfully thorough, simply expressed video which covers all the points. Absolutely superb! Thanks.

Fantastic and in-depth light tutorial, one of the best I have seen.

Well done! Another benefit of using CFLs is it keeps the set cooler in temperature. Incandescent lights can make the talent very hot and sweaty. Also, diffusing the light and moving it closer to the subject softens shadows as well.

as a photographer, you guys have just saved me $400-600 , thank you so much

you actually saved my life! I had a photography project due and screwed up in studio and had to somehow reshoot at home and I made this! It turned out really well!!! :) Thanks so much!

I wouldn't have the time, Brad, to start selling these, but my hope with these types of videos is to inspire others to modify and create new designs. Some have mentioned buying sockets with pre-wired cables/plugs. You could attach a power strip to the device and build something similar without any electrical work.

The plastic tub melting was the first thing that popped into my head. Good practical tutorial.

This is really perfect. I have never seen this talent and innovation before. Thanks my brother, I enjoyed this video.

Thank you for this. I just finished mine this morning, and it works great.

This is a great build, awesome job griffin!

I built this set. I love it. Thanks. Going to build at least one more.

I could, but I actually like how the white pan diffuses/softens the light. Mirrors would more effectively reflect, but produce harder shadows.

Good use of materials. I like the idea of having cooler lights. I'm using 200 watt incandescent bulbs and it really heats up the room.

Woah! This is great! I've been looking for some great substitutes to expensive lighting and this looks amazing!

Gonna build two of these for my photography. Looks easy to do! Off to the store tomorrow for some supplies!

I love this thing! I've been looking for a good DIY photography light, and I think this is by far the best I've seen. Thanks for the great video!

OmG these lights are bright! Thanks Mr. Mogul!

For those of you who are electrically challenged look at modifying with ( 6-Inch AC Extension Cord by Radio Shack) and (Leviton Outlet to Socket Adapter) both on amazon This was the Best DIY Lighting Video of 2012

Thank you Indy Mogul for this build episode, I know I am very vocal about the return of BFX. Yes, I understand that everyone does things differently, but I also see that you can do builds like this and call it bfx and a lot of people, including me, will be satisfied. I personally prefer the equipment builds rather then props, as it is more helpful for cheap skates like me. Keep up the good work.

I built some lights using aluminium project boxes used by electronic hobbyists, and a 8" steel kitchen mixing bowl. I've also added PAR64 barn doors to 300W worklights, (now considering LED). Also, two 4x55w Kinoflo style lamps from a growing lamp used in the (er) "hydroponic" industry. Alas, I didn't video these projects, but documented them in a ebooks

Thank you for informing us about color temperature

Well thought out, well executed, with comprehensive information regarding this DIY project and lighting in general. Cheers!

Killer video. I just bought the stuff. Never thought I'd buy a cake pan... Thank you for sharing!

I really like your statement of making something a little more expensive, but still cheaper than the actual tool and something you can invest in.

I'm from Brazil and I love your channel! Thanks!

Wow !! This is amazing !! I learned so much things, thank you !

Fantastic! Great work Griffin!

Incredible! This is a must try for me! Thank you!

This is pretty brilliant. Thanks for this.

I imagine that's the case, which is why I decided mounting them at an angle would be better than my previous design, where the top of the bulb faces out.

Subbed! Great video, never heard of wire nuts called wire guards!! Thank you for sharing. Your channel is full of good, informative content.

That's a good light Papa! I will definitely use this.

I liked the way you explained color temps!

Looks like a good project. I will for sure be building this light. Maybe even two.

Very nice build :) i like how its pretty high quality at a decent price. keep on doing these videos please :)

Looks very useful...great build, Griffin!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question

Thank you for the 3 point light technique explanation, helped me a lot with filming :D

Very good build. Well done video.

Howdy! I just built this light, and I'm looking to build another (with some modest changes - I'll let you know if you're interested). But it pretty much cost exactly what you said it would, it pretty much came together exactly as you said it would, and it does exactly what you said it would. Thanks for the design idea!

I built this light, and I used it to take my family's Christmas photos. They came out great!

I built a variant of this design using a larger\deeper plastic bin, lined with aluminium and covered it with white nylon, resulting in a pair of 800 watt softboxes - much nicer than the halogen work lights I was fighting before. Set and forget white balance, better color, and best of all, cool running daylight on demand that won't pop the fuse breaker or start a fire :-) Thanks for the guidance!

You guys are DIY gods!. Thank you.

Excellent and very helpful vid - thanks Griffin!

Great light design going try it out today.

these DIY vids are great. One thing I and a lot of people are lost on is how to start making an income on film. What do I need to buy for my first job? Who do I talk to first? What do I build the expectations to? What kinds of rates should the owner expect to get on local stations? I just finished film school and they failed to cover the business side of film.

the best cheap/DIY light for tutorial ive seen !!!

your the bomb ..we need more vids like this ..easy informative and practical..some teachers in school will take 3 weeks 2 explain this one video. gets boring ..u just made me more intersted 2 find out more about working with electricity...thx

this is very useful. encouraging high quality video production. thanks.

oh my goodness!!!!! i officially love you! this is EXACTLY WHAT IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! THIS TUTORIAL WAS A LIFESAVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the tutorial, loved it and subscribed.

great tutorial! salutations from Porto Alegre!

Griff Man OUTSTANDING ! A useful modification might be to have separate switches for each pair of lights (4 in total) so that you can control light intensity. Of course you could always just unscrew some lights, but as you point out, these things can be delicate/semi-dangerous. That said, great design, well thought out, professionally described.

Nice build...Looks like it works great.

I didn't fully explain that: Aside from using a bunch of binder clips to secure wax paper or gels to the dish pan, after I place the umbrella through the hole, I've also attached a binder clip to the umbrella pole, to keep it from sliding back through the hole.

i dont make videos but i learn so much from these videos.i didnt knew so much about light on videos

This video taught me so much that I didn't know. I'm starting out in the audio recording business but want to eventually do video and photo as well.

killer setup. thanks man

This is now one of my fav IndyMogul videos :D

This is the most helpful thing I've ever watched....ever. Now I can finally have professional looking videos instead of my nasty looking blog posts! I wish I had known you were around in SXSW, I would've loved to say hello.

This is great! I've been looking for a cheap way to make lights other than buying tons of can lights or really crappy softboxes. Thank you! I'm gonna make 2 of them!

this video is amazingly informative, thank you so much for making it!

Nice work, gryf! Way to carry on the indymogul spirit :)