Are flashlights used in movies modified?

MG_Saldivar

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Sep 23, 2005
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I happen to have watched a few movies on DVD this week that all featured scenes where the characters needed flashlights. It occurred to me that all the flashlights used produced pretty small spots (some with good throw, some not), but none of them produced the kind of flood I would look for in a pocket light.

I'm wondering -- are movie flashlights specifically chosen for throw in order to avoid interfering with lighting? Are they modified in some way that makes them 'camera friendly?' Or is the lack of flood an artifact of the filmmaking process (i.e., the flashlights would have flood if I was in the same room with them, but it just doesn't translate to film)?
 

MikeHunt79

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The focus pullers on films have to be careful of lens flare, so maybe this is why the floody beam is not used. Also, some flashlights might be higher brightness than stock, as film often needs more light.
 

schrenz

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Mar 16, 2006
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I think an impressing spot looks better in a movie, I noticed, that SF-THs are likely used in movies.
Yesterday I saw something funny:
A movie about the dicovery of Tut-Ench-Amun's grave in 1923 and Henry (?)Carter was using a Surfire C2!!!:lolsign: :lolsign:
 

Illum

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i was wondering whether they altered the beam of the M6 Ben was using in National Treasure...

:laughing:the M6 has an unmistakeable body pattern to it:grin2:
 

PhotonWrangler

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I think many of them are modded. They would look pretty yellow against a set that was lit with the typical quartz halogens or HMI lights.

On the other hand, they could easily fix a yellowish tint of a flashlight in a digital intermediate.
 
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