Research: Mise en Scene: Lighting and Colour - Ms. Begum

Mise en scene

Lighting and Colour

 

What is lighting and colour?

Lighting and colour can be used to highlight importance of a character or object in a film. Lighting and colour is an important micro-element because it conveys mood and atmosphere in a scene or film. This can be used to guide the audiences attention to a specific character or objector even gestures and emotions. Lighting can also be use to show shadows and build up tension and suspense.

Angles of lighting:

Under lighting: is when the source of light is placed under/below the character. This tends to have a distorting effect on the character and creates shadows. This type of lighting can also make a character appear scary to the audience.

 Top Lighting: is when the source of light is placed above the character. This highlights the features of the characters. This type of light makes them stand out to the audience like a 'spot light' effect. This makes them look glamorous towards the audience.

Back Lighting: this is when the light source is behind the character. What this does to the camera is create a silhouette which the audience sees. With the back lighting creating a silhouette this can be used to create a scary and eerie effect towards the audience. As for the use of this is to hide the identity of the character, and this is makes the audience see the character as mysterious.

Type of lighting:

Low Key Lighting:  is when the lighting is dark with small areas of light, which also creates shadows.

High Key Lighting: appears more natural and realistic to our eyes. The lighting effect is heightened.

Natural Lighting: is when no lighting has been added so the audience will see what you expect to see.

Low key lighting is conventional in thrillers because the darkness builds up tension and creates suspense. The more darkness over the little light shown connotes the vulnerability of the protagonist and shows who has more power.

Colour in scenes















Colours that are conventional to thrillers are red, black and other dark colours because it makes a scene look isolated and surrounded by danger and mystery. Different colours have different connotations of objects and emotions for example; blood could represent danger, violence, murder etc.


Conclusion:
All of this information has helped me to have a better understanding of how lighting and colour can have different connotations in thrillers. I am planning to use low key lighting and under lighting because they are conventional to thrillers.