Lighting and Colour

Lighting helps to manipulate the viewer into feeling something that the production team/ director wants them to feel. It can also help to attract the audiences attention to a specific part of the frame, this might be useful in a psychological thriller if the object will become significant later on in the film. As well as putting light into the scene, shadows can also be used to help build suspense as it hides part of the scene, in darkness, from the viewer.



There are many different types of lighting techniques which all have different effects on the scene and atmosphere. Some of these are:

• The key light- a very bright light and it is very influential.


• The back light- helps to soften the key light and makes the character/object more "rounded"
  
• Filler lights- Softens the effect of shadows and helps make the change between shadows and light more gradual. Lessens the shadows that key lights and back lights make.
• Hey key-More filler lights are used which makes the lighting look more normal and like that that we see everyday in real life. Areas of darkness will not be as distinct.
• Low key- Created by using key and backlights only, which creates contrast between light and dark, giving this type of lighting the nickname "filmnoir". It also gives the scenes deep dark shadows.
• Underlighting- Is where the main light source comes from underneath the character/ object. This makes it look distorted and it is often used in horror movies.
• Toplighting- It is used to make the character look glamorous as it softens edges . The main source of light comes from above.
• Backlighting- Is used to create silhouettes. The main source comes from behind the character/object. It is also used in horror and thriller movies to create an air of suspense as the character is not easily recognisable.

• Colour- Colour is used to create mood that the film company want the audience to feel. . it will awake connotations that the audience already associate with that colour, e.g. Red and Violence.