Place your brightest light on either side of the camera at a 45 degree angle to establish the key light. The key light is also known as the main light, as it is the primary source of illumination for the subject that is being filmed. The main shadows of your lighting scheme as well as film style are largely determined by the positioning of the main light. Set up an additional light from the opposite angle and a different height to create a fill light. The fill light reduces the contrast caused by the main light. Fill lights are used in most traditional film styles. Do not use a fill light if you plan on creating a film-noir style shot, with high-contrast, edgy shadows.
Establish a kicker light by aiming a light toward one shoulder of the subject from behind them. Ensure that the light is high enough that it is out of sight of the camera. Kicker lights, also known as back lights, reveal the contour of film subjects. They add a highlight to the cheek and shoulder of their subjects, revealing their form and separating them from the background of the shot.
Bounce your brightest lights off of the wall or ceiling to have your light cover a large area. This lighting scheme is most useful for situations when the cinematographer has to move around the set. Bouncing light simply raises the light levels of an entire room so that everyone in it can be evenly illuminated.
Aim a light at the background of the shot to create a set light. A set light simply accents the background, adding visual interest. Make sure that the set light is out of the shot when it is on. The set light should have comparable brightness to the key light, but should not be any brighter.