Map out the scene you're going to shoot on a piece of paper. Mark where the primary and secondary characters will be. Sketch a basic outline of the scenery. Make sure to include any piece of the set that needs to be highlighted in the shot.
Set up the video camera and microphone. Turn on the camera and make sure that everything in the set is positioned correctly. Ensure that no equipment can be seen through the camera.
Place the key lamp so that it illuminates the most important character but can't be seen in the film. Lighting a night scene can sometimes create unwanted shadows on actors' faces. To avoid this, use a bounce card, a white reflective board, to direct more light from the key lamp onto the character. This will eliminate the shadows and create different angles of light. You can use the placement of the bounce card and the key lamp to imitate light sources in the night scene, such as a candle or the moon.
Position the fill lamp. Set it up on the opposite side of the set from the key lamp. Make sure that the angle of the fill lamp is different from the key lamp, so your night scene will look natural. Match the angle and position of the fill lamp with a light source that exists in the night scene, such as street lights or a fire. The fill lamp is dimmer than the key lamp, but it can create too much light for your night scene. You can insert diffusers or colored filters into your lamp to soften the impact.
Set up the backlight. The backlight is used to create separation between the foreground and background, denoting importance in the scene. The backlight should be placed so that it shines above and behind the actors or scene elements in the foreground. The direction of this lamp's light projection is less precise than the fill and key lamps. The backlight should be allowed to shine broadly across the back of the set.
Look through the video camera and check that none of the lamps are visible in the film. Ensure that all the important parts of the set are lit correctly in order of importance.