Employ a basic three-point lighting set-up to provide the basic illumination for your scene. This consists of a key light, a fill light and a back light. The key light, your strongest light, is placed to the side of the camera, pointing at the subject. This should leave the opposite side of their face in shadow. The fill light will be a softer light, and should be positioned on the opposite side of the camera from the key light. This will reduce the shadows on the subject's face. Finally, the back light, another soft light, is positioned diagonally behind the subject. This will provide a three-dimensional look and serve to highlight the subject's outline.
Experiment with removing any of the three lights from your three-point lighting set-up. For example, removing the fill light will leave shadows on one side of your subject's face, creating a "film noir" effect such as that seen in the films "The Maltese Falcon," "Citizen Kane" or, more recently, "Sin City."
Use colored filters in front of your key light to create the effect of warmth or coolness. A red filter will give your light a red hue, making your scene look warmer. A blue filter will make your subjects look colder.
Add incidental lighting, such as lamps, televisions or sunlight to create a more realistic effect. Director David Lynch employed this technique to great effect in films such as "Mulholland Drive" and "Lost Highway" and the TV series "Twin Peaks." Try combining this with the colored-filter technique; colored, transparent lampshades can add a subtle layer of additional depth to your scene.
Take an active role by dynamically changing the lighting during the filming of a scene. To create the effect of your subjects watching television, use a blue filter with one of your lights and wave a tattered cloth in front of the light, producing a flickering effect. The same technique coupled with a red filter will have your subjects looking like they're near a fire.