Which lights to buy?

The following is just a list of cheap lighting, the rest has to be on you as far as lighting goes. Rent the rest from your local grip/rental house, if you have one.

-GE photo flood bulbs. A few tungsten 250's and 500's.
-Silk china balls (more durable than paper, not that much more)
-A few of these http://www.filmtools.com/chinlansocas.html
-A few gel sheets of quarter half and full ctb and cto, minus green is always good to have as well
-Half diffusion and some sheets of Opal gel
-Foam core, cheap soft source when used as a bounce
-A few of these for the 250w photo floods http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100354517/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


Rent
-A few mole fixtures, usually around $35 a day depending on the light
- C stands and sand bags
-A 4 ft 4 bank kino would be nice to have on hand
-Pick up a few 4x4 flags, 2x4's, you'd probably be able to rent a package.


That's all I can think of now.

Remember, it's all about light control, not flooding your scene with light. Throw up your light sources and then shape it from there.

Hope that gets you started

How much do you want to spend? My school has two Lowel Totas, which are used by the beginning classes for studio shoots so they don't fuck up our Alien Bees. They produce good, consistent light, and they're bright. And very, very hot. I very highly recommend them.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/285812-REG/Lowel_T1_923Z_Tota_light_Trans_kit.html

That kit has 3, plus stands, umbrellas, and a case. You may want to buy a soft box to use for even better quality light.

As for your lighting modifications: You'll want to have a soft box. Get one with two softening layers, that way you can interchange the interior one with colored gels (which can be purchased in large sheets) for a soft colored look, or for your homeless guy, just a hard light with some color to it. You'll probably want a somewhat textured light quality for your homeless dude, so consider throwing some bubble wrap or screen-door material into your soft box instead of the standard white softening layer. You can find all the stuff you need on B&H under the Lighting & Studio Equipment section, should be in continuous for other light options, but soft boxes, gels, etc. may be under the general lighting.

im looking more into direct lighting than soft for the homless guy. it needs to bring out rough skin and not soften it. I want it to look gritty while being justified.

heres the equipment I have access to or already own. A soft box and a china ball, its paper though but I will be carefull with it.

If you want to be really straight on and harsh with the light, try this hack:

Buy a bunch of boxes of drinking straws, cut them in half and leave both ends open (so light can pass through the straws). Arrange them in a grid, then place it in front of your light. It'll pretty much straighten out the lights rays so it's like having a whole bunch of lasers all right next to each other instead of one large light source- harsh shadows and a very, very hard light.

Or just don't use a diffuser for the hobo. I don't know about video, but bubble wrap or chicken wire, screen fencing, etc. over a strobe makes for a really interesting and cool harsh light with some texture to it.