RESEARCH: MISE EN SCENE: COSTUME, HAIR AND MAKE UP- MRS. QUINLAN

What are costume, hair and make-up? Why are they important?

Costume, hair and make-up help to characterise the person and express their intensions and feelings to the viewer. They are part of Mise En Scene. The characters in films will have varied costumes, hair and make up to show they have different purpose and propose different morals/ideas. For example the characterisation of the protagonist will be different to an antagonist to suggest they have opposite nature and follow different paths. It also helps the audience to recognise each character and therefore respond to them in different ways. These are important because the audience needs to know who are the characters so they can support the right one and put their faith into the protagonist. Moreover, costume, hair and make-up will vary within different sub-genres. For example costume in a crime thriller tends to be formal suits whereas in a medical thriller the costume is often white hospital outwears. This is because costume, hair and make up shape the character and characters tend to shape the genre.

Costume, hair and make-up in the thriller genre:

 

Taken: the character in this picture is an antihero which is presented by his costume. The black leather jacket has connotations of professionalism and wealth because of the shiny texture of the material and the ‘sleek’ look it has. In addition a black coat has connotations of bad intensions as black is also a colour of authority and power making the character look dominant and stylish which gives them even more self-assurance and confidence. The character has dark jeans with some light highlights. This outfit is made of very heavy textures which can imply that the characters nature is strong and determined. The character has no make-up and his hair is quite neat which is conventional to the thriller genre and male representations in thrillers; it also shows his masculine nature. Therefore the audience can assume that although he is an antihero he is not a villain and he will fight for justice.

Shutter Island: the character from this still frame is a protagonist which can be assumed from his costume, hair and make-up. The mossy gold colour of his blazer connotes to warmth and therefore shows he is a welcoming and approachable character which is expected of a protagonist. In addition he is wearing a white collar shirt with a tie which shows he is educated and professional. White suggests purity and good will which is another way for the viewer to infer his intensions. A suit is a conventional costume of a protagonist because it shows the audience they are intelligent and worth their trust because typically a person looks much more effective in a suit.  The character has his hair neatly laid down which creates a sense of superiority to his persona. It also suggest that he is professional and takes care of himself; therefore the audience assumes he can be trusted and they put their faith into him.

 

Scream: the character from this shot is a victim which can be assumed from the costume, hair and make-up arrangements. The female character is wearing a white thick jumper. The audience can assume that the female is comfortable and warm which can make the audience feel secure too. The white colour connotes to being pure and holy which shows that the female character is vulnerable and can be easily hurt by someone. The jumper creates a sense of protection for the character but the spectator can assume that she is too fragile and defenceless and can be exposed to danger easily. Furthermore the victim has blonde hair which is a conventional look for a victim as it makes her look much more fragile and childlike and the audience has less hope in her survival because of the idea of ‘survival of the fittest’ and the female representations in media.

Black Swan: the audience can assume that the female from the still image is an antagonist. This is conveyed by the use of her costume, hair and make-up. The character is wearing a black dress. Black has connotations of death and evil which are conventional traits of an antagonist as they meant to create fear amongst the characters and the audience. However the dress itself is not a conventional costume for an antagonist as it is feminine and tends to portray the character as the subordinate one. This is because of gender stereotypes. However this female character can still create fear and discomfort for others because she looks threatening. In addition the character has heavy make-up around her eyes. The black eye shadows can demonstrate her evil nature. In addition the black crown on her head suggests that she is thirsty for power and authority; because of the black colour the audience can infer that her supremacy will be used for bad causes.

Scream:  from this still frame the viewer can guess that the character is an antagonist. This is portrayed by the characterisation of costume, hair and make-up. The character wears a black cloak which connotes mystery and evilness because the cloak is loose and doesn't show any definitions of the characters body. At the same time, it proposes evil because black is a dark colour with connotations of death and misery. The mask itself has black and white on it which are very common colours and do not give away much about the character's personality which shows that they try to stay hidden. This is a conventional representation of an antagonist as often they tend to stay hidden in order to avoid getting caught by the authorities.  

 

Further Analysis from my Chosen Thriller:

I decided to analyse Joker’s costume, hair and make-up. The character from this image is an antagonist which the audience can infer from his iconic self-image. The Joker is wearing an eggplant colour blazer with a scruffy shirt and a seaweed colour tie. The blazer is dark and dirty which connotes mystery and evil intensions. It can also imply that the character is feeling unhappy on the inside. In addition the rotten shirt and the tie looks like the character cannot hold himself well and isn’t a reliable person nor someone who the audience could put their faith to. This set of clothing very much reflects the psychopathic nature of the Joker. This is because as much as he tries to become a sophisticated and formal character his state juxtaposes that by the messy and dirty outfit. Also this set of costume shows that he tries to fit in, as a suit is a symbol of wealth and stability however his lack of effort and the untypical make up shows his disturbed mental state. The mouldy green hair compliments the unpleasant outfit of the character. The colour of his hair connotes to harmful toxins which shows how harmful this character could be. Lastly the make-up plays a part of the Jokers image and is like a mask which hides his identity although it is so symbolic of him. The red lipstick on the white background has strong connotations of blood which stains an innocent pale skin which could imply that the Joker has a good site to him. However it also show that his psychopathic nature is not afraid of hurting someone innocent just for self-pleasure. Moreover the black shadows on the eyes show that he has a pessimistic view on the world and has some sinful intensions towards others because black connotes evil.

Conclusion:

 In conclusion, the analysis of different costumes, hair and make-ups was beneficial because I now know what characters need to look like in order to make a conventional thriller opening. Looking at the differences between the outfits allowed me to distinguish specific generics which make a conventional victim, antagonist, antihero or a protagonist. This is an important aspect because in every thriller there are various characters who need to provoke different reactions from the audience. Therefore, I now know that my antagonist has to wear black or dark clothing to represent their evil intensions. I also know that my victim should be the binary opposite of the antagonist to show they are completely different and have opposite nature so the victim should wear light clothing with bright colours to represent their innocence and vulnerability. Lastly from this research I now know that I want my protagonist to wear something casual to show that he is an average person yet someone who will be heroic and fight for the right causes so the audience can sympathise him and put their faith in him. I also want my protagonist to have very little amount of make up to show that it is not important and that they are not trying to pretend to be someone else. In addition, I now know that my antagonist should have messy hair to show their disturbed personality.

RESEARCH: MISE EN SCENE: FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE- MRS. QUINLAN

 

What is facial expression and body language? Why is it important?

Body language and facial expressions are part of Mise en Scene. They are very important aspects of a character because they represent their inner nature and a person they are. It also conveys their mood and emotions which is important for the viewer so their character knowledge is more thorough and the audience is able to understand and connect with the narrative more; creating an emotional bond. The spectator can also infer the characters intensions by the way they are standing.  Body language and facial expressions differ across the genres as well as characters, for example in the action genre the characters will almost always look firm and determined to reflect the seriousness of the situation and reality of the action. However in a comedy most moves and facials will be exaggerated to make the viewer laugh and feel relaxed. When it comes to characters their posture and expressions will differentiate from one another to help the audience determine who is who. For example an antagonist will be slouched and have a cunning facial to show his inner evil. On the other hand the protagonist will look firm and his posture will show openness for others which will attract the viewers.

 

Facial expressions and body languages in Thriller genre:

In thrillers facial expressions and body languages play a massive role in order to help represent a character. This is because the characters which are evident in this genre are sometimes very complicated and exceptional. They are often different from the social norm and therefore their posture is different. In thrillers there are many psychopaths and brutal murderers who need to convey their roles and show their nature through many characteristics including facials and body language. Therefore many performers use method acting which is a technique that involves the actor to stay in their role before the movie is filmed. This means that the artist will become the character in their everyday life in order to prepare for the filming. This allows a naturalistic performance and a believable act which will create an intense audience reaction. These are some of the method actors who played in thrillers and has created phenomenal characters.


Marlon Brando


 



Marlon has followed Stanislavski's pattern which allowed him to recall his past experiences and feelings to fully pursue his role. This allowed Brando to truly understand his characters and create a believable performance which used to be rare. Moreover his roles has always been professional and didn't lack in realism. Marlon's role in The Godfather was highly convincing and his body language and facial expression looked natural and casual; making the moving image a reality. His character representation was accurate which is why Marlon Brando is one of the greatest actors in the history of film.

Heath Ledger  

Ledger's intensive method acting has made him one of the greatest actors to portray the tough role of the Joker. The psychopathic and cold-hearted tendencies that were explored by Ledger to fulfil the character has shown an extreme devotion for performing. Heath was truly becoming Joker and it is said that his passion became his fixation and the drug overdose, which caused his death in 2008, was said to be triggered by Joker.  Ledger's role in The Dark Knight was widely believable although the character is made up. However the spectacular use of facial expressions and body language made Joker seem real and natural which is why Heath Ledger was such a great actor.





Anthony Hopkins



Anthony Hopkins has followed method acting techniques to some extend. He mentioned in his interviews that he truly admires the method actors and sacrifices and determination they put into a role. However he himself thinks that the script is all that he requires to complete a role. Hopkins has played a psychopathic cannibal in the thriller The Silence of the Lambs. As much as the character had casual and simplistic facial expressions and body language Hopkins managed to make the character seem realistic; creating insecurity amongst the audience.







These are some of conventional examples of facial expressions and body languages from different characters:

Protagonist: the protagonist would have a determined facial expression but not too rough as they need to look approachable and kind so the audience sympathizes them. Their facials should look welcoming and pleasant so the viewer knows that they have good nature. However at some moments a protagonist should look determined and show courage so the audience put their hopes in them. From this thriller Salt the female protagonist seems determined which is shown by the steady look on her face. Also the way she half closes her eyes shows that she has a set aim or tries to read others. When it comes to the body language a protagonist should have a confident posture with their shoulders firm but not too arrogant. This posture will show the audience that their hero is brave but not vain.
The protagonist from the thriller Seven has a worried facial expression. This is also conventional because a protagonist should care for others rather than just himself.

Antagonist: a conventional antagonist would have a slouched body language to show they are uninterested, which is disrespectful. It will show that they are mysterious and have something to hide which makes the viewer feel insecure. Their walk would be sloppy or very vain to show their arrogance. This would make the spectator loathe the character. In addition the antagonist would have a very self-assured facial expression or disgusting grin on their face which yet again displays their mocking nature. An example would be Joker who has an evil facial expression, shown by the way he lowers his eyebrows and smiles. Suggesting that he likes his corrupted personality. His slouched posture shows that he is not welcoming and dislikes others which is typical of an antagonist.

On the other side the antagonist can have a very firm body language and serious facial expression to show they are dominant and intelligent which would make the audience feel intimidated and fearful. The character from the thriller Face-Off has an intrigued facial expression which is shown by his steady and determined look, suggesting that he has found something/one of his interest which he could use for his own benefit. This is conventional as an antagonist always tries to suit themselves without considering others.

 

 

Victim/ someone in distress: a conventional victim would have a very teary facial expression because they are vulnerable and scared. Their faces will show terror and they will be looking like they need a saviour. A victim might have a cuddled up body language to show fear. They might also have a hand held out as if calling for help. In addition a victim could have a clueless face as they are unaware of what will happen. This makes the audience feel sorry for them as they are innocent and helpless. It can also make the audience feel bad because they can’t do anything to rescue the person in distress. The victim from Psycho has a helpless body language which is shown by the way she holds her hand out as if asking the viewer for help. The victim from the thriller Law Abiding Citizen has a clueless facial expression which shows how exposed and oblivious she is to upcoming danger. This makes the viewer feel worried knowing that a child is in the subordinate position.

 

Examples of body languages and facial expressions in thriller genre:

Fast and Furious: the male characters have a firm and steady body language which shows that they are confident. Their hands are loose and far from their central body parts which shows that they are assigning their territory and value personal space which makes them look superior and dominant. It portrays their characters as threatening and ready to fight which can intimidate the audience or make them feel safe. Their facial expressions show determination and focus which implies that they are strong-willed and nothing can stop them. This is a conventional representation of male characters in action thrillers. The female characters have a subverted role as although they look less dangerous than men they are still masculine and show authority amongst the crew. Their facial expressions show supremacy and confidence which is important and expected of a protagonist as they need to create a sense of safety for the viewer. Their unconventional body language helps to establish their masculine nature; creating a sense of intimidation for the male viewers as well as females. However this is done with a good balance which therefore implies that these females are the protagonists rather than someone we should be afraid of.

 

Law Abiding Citizen: this shot allows the audience to witness clear facial expression through the use of a close up. The spectator can infer that the character is an antagonist because of his sickening laugh. The grin on his face is arrogant and shows that he receives pleasure from his tortures which is a conventional trait of an antagonist. The viewer feels disgusted and fearful as the mentally unstable character gains pleasure from a violent act towards another human.

 

Further Scene Analysis of Chosen Extract:

 

I decided to analyze the facial expressions and body language from this still frame from the thriller Uninvited. The female character has a clear concern in her expression. She is looking down and her slightly open mouth and fixed eyes show that she is in deep thought and reflection about something which is hidden away from the audience making them feel insecure and curious as they are unaware of what the character is feeling. In addition her body language shows that she is quite anxious or scared. This is shown by her leg which is cuddled up to her centre which can imply that she is insecure and needs to feel safe. Although she is slouched the viewer can assume she is not dangerous because of the female representations in the film industry. Therefore as a spectator we sympathize her character as she looks vulnerable and innocent therefore we feel sorry and pity.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, learning about different posture and facial expressions was important because they help to characterize an actor and show the audience what kind of a person they are and how we are supposed to react to them. I also learned how different characters will have different body languages and facials to juxtapose their roles and help the spectator to differentiate each characters. Posture is also important to convey a person and make them different from one another also allowing to create a persona and imply their intensions. From looking at facial expressions and body languages in thrillers I now have a wider understanding of how to use those traits in my opening thriller sequence. I decided to have a firm looking protagonist who has quite fearful facial expression to show that he is able but not arrogant or over confident. This will allow my audience to pity and support my character at the same time. Also I decided that my antagonist should have a sickening facial expression and a slouched body language to show that they are not approachable and should be avoided. Lastly the victim should have a scared facial expression to show that they are in fear of losing their life. Their body language should be open to show that they are welcoming but therefore exposed to danger easily.

RESEARCH: MISE EN SCENE: ICONOGRAPHY AND SETTING - MRS. QUINLAN

What is setting and iconography? Why are they important?

Setting and iconography are part of the Mise En Scene. Setting is the location where the scene takes place and can change during different moments in the sequence. The scenery can create thrill and excitement especially in the thriller genre as they are usually exotic and therefore can create suspense for the viewer. On the other hand iconography is the significant object used in the scene that influence the narrative and/or character representation. Iconography can also change throughout the film and create meaning to scene. Different setting and iconography has different connotations. For example an island will connotes danger because usually they are isolated and the audience is unfamiliar with them; exposed to danger easily. Iconography of a knife connotes death as knifes are sharp and can cause harm. Setting and iconography are important because they have an impact on narrative by helping to enhance the story line. Without setting and iconography the film would be boring and nothing would happen because there will be no trigger for the plot.

 

Setting examples in thrillers:

Asylums and other health institutions: these create a level of insecurity and fear as the settings are usually isolated and tend to have a repulsive atmosphere for the viewer. In addition mental hospitals are still a taboo among the society which makes the audience uncomfortable and tense. This location from the psychological thriller Shutter Island is conventional as the setting is isolated and bizarre for the audience because they are unfamiliar with it. The building looks very plain and old which therefore makes the viewer cringe and tense.

 

 Houses:

A setting of a house can be applied to more than one sub genres because of different representations. A haunted house is a conventional setting to a horror thriller as they make the viewer nervous because it is such a familiar location and the idea of haunting ruins the calm and loving connotation of a house therefore it makes the spectator insecure. A haunted house is one of the main locations in the horror thriller the Conjuring. The house looks dull and dim which is conventional as it builds fear and unsettlement. The location can make the viewer scared because it subverts their idealization of a house and compare it to the one they live in.

A house can be also a key location in a crime thriller. This is evident in the film Panic Room where the house is being terrorized by few robbers. This makes the viewer feel tense as they are afraid that the same could happen to them. The house seems empty and dark which creates tension for the spectator.

Forest:

A forest is another conventional setting because it is usually isolated and superior especially at night. Forest has connotations of darkness and it is specially threatening when the trees are dead and the whole scenery looks lifeless. In this scene form the horror thriller Silence of the Lambs the setting is a forest which looks abandoned and isolated from everyone. This makes the viewer feel worried and insecure because if something happens no one will be out there to help the protagonist.

 

Busy streets and corporate cities:

A city is also a conventional location in the thriller genre especially action as it helps to reflect the chaos during chasing sequences or shootings. Also a viewer can be familiar with the location which can give them thrill and excitement. The action thriller Fast and Furious is set in Los Angeles which is a well-known big city. This also helps to change location because of the large area you can act in and therefore enhances the movie’s narrative.

Church:

A church is another conventional location in thriller genre; especially religious thrillers. A church has specific connotations such as faith and morality which is why it is such an interesting setting because it also helps to explore different themes. A church is a familiar setting and audience will be able to identify with it. However for religious reasons it can be quite controversial for the viewers. The setting from the thriller Angels and Demons is a church. This alerts the audience about the possible narrative and themes as well as implies a sub-genre.

Iconography examples in thrillers:

Guns:

Guns are usually present in most thriller sub genres as thrillers tend to have shootouts. However guns are evident the most in action thrillers and crime thrillers because of the characters that tend to play in these films. For example in the action thriller Public Enemy there’s an iconography of a gun. This is an example of iconography as it is significant to the shot because it can change the narrative and creates a character representation. From looking at this prop the audience can assume that the character is a threat to the society because guns can cause harm.

Knifes:

Knifes are mostly evident in horror thrillers because it involves much more physical contact and brutality to stab someone rather than shoot. Therefore there is much more blood evident which is a convention of a horror thriller sub-genre. In this still frame form the Psycho the knife is an iconography because it helps to determine the character’s intensions and allows to guess the audience that the knife will cause death.

 

Mysterious and unfamiliar pops:

These include all the iconography that has been used in the film and are key part to the narrative structure and are symbolic to only one film. For example in the psychological thriller Seven the iconography would be the ‘box’ that the characters talk about at the end of the movie. This is an iconography because the object plays a significant part in the movie and has an effect on the narrative and characters. The ‘box’ is intriguing and excites the viewer as they want to find out what is in the box.

Thematic Iconography:

Many iconography will relate not only to the film genre but also narrative and themes within the storyline. An example of this would be the iconography of a crayon from the Black Swan opening sequence. Crayon is not a typical iconography and isn't often used in thrillers. However it relates to the title as a swan connotes purity and innocence similarly to a crayon which has connotations of childhood and vulnerability. However the fact that it is black connotes to the idea of Black Swan which symbolises evil and darkness which are thriller themes.

Further analysis of chosen scene:

 

I decided to analyse the iconography and setting from the scene in the Dark Knight. The sequence is located in one of the Gothan streets at night. Although Gothan is a fictional location it is still quite recognizable for the Batman fans therefore the audience are familiar with it. The street is conventional to action thriller genre because the audience can see the destruction and the impact that the fight has on the citizens and the city itself. Also the night makes the location much more superior and dangerous and darkness connotes to evil and pain which implies that someone will get hurt. This makes the audience feel fearful and worried for the characters. Furthermore the iconography of the Batmobile is used in the sequence. This is evident when the protagonist rides his vehicle towards Joker which leaves the viewer in suspense as we don’t know whether they will collide or not. Batmobile is significant prop as it is part of the protagonist’s identity and therefore the audience can recognize him. In addition there is another iconography of a gun. The gun is evident when Joker comes out of the van and starts shooting which shows his evil intensions. This is an iconography as the gun has a significant role because of the harm it can cause and threat it creates for the viewer. The gun makes the audience feel worried for the protagonist as we don’t want him to die, in addition it creates fear because Joker is an unstable antagonist and will not hesitate when killing innocent people.

Analysis of Setting and Iconography in a Thriller Opening.

Additionally, I have looked at the use of setting and iconography from the opening of The Usual Suspects. The opening frame reveals the iconography of matches being lit up. Matches connote fire and therefore fire is symbolic of destruction and harm which potentially foreshadows what could happen within the narrative. Moreover the iconography of a cigarette creates meaning for the audience. This is because it represents the character as wealthy or quite arrogant which is emphasised by his slow and careless hand movement when the match is being dropped causing more ignition. The setting of a basement/ warehouse is conventional to the thriller genre because it seems isolated and hidden, proposing that the character likes his own company and tries to hide away from the outer world.  Moreover the lighter reinforces the idea of destruction because yet again the audience is exposed to another source of flame which is constantly being drawn upon creating more tension and thrill as we await for further action. The gun is significant because it creates meaning for the audience by implying that the character is in fact evil and has bad intensions. Following on, the audience can see that the action takes place on a ship which looks isolated and located away form anyone else. Lastly the iconography of a cigarette is yet again used to cause an explosion. This reinforces the idea of the lighted matches at the beginning which could be presented as a parallel image of what was going to happen at the end of the sequence.

Conclusion:

Overall setting and iconography plays an important part in the moving image. I have learned that setting gives meaning to the scene because of the different connotations that the audience assigns to different locations. It was important to look at various settings in different thrillers as it gave me a rough idea of what setting is conventional to such genre. I have learned that the environment should be isolated and have a fearful effect on the audience. I have also learned that iconography can convey the character and narrative and therefore have an effect on the audience. Iconography can be very exciting in thrillers if used effectively. This is because it helps to enrich the sequence and create distortion to the narrative allowing a plot twist which is a common conventions in thrillers. Therefore I decided that in my thriller opening I would like to use the iconography of a mysterious letter which the protagonist will receive and medicine as I want my character to be emotionally unstable and therefore dependent on those pills. I also decided I want to set my location in forest during dawn because this is when the location will look the most superior and intriguing for the viewer.

RESEARCH: MISE EN SCENE: LIGHTING AND COLOUR- MRS. QUINLAN

What is lighting and colour? Why is it important?

Lighting and colour belongs to Mise En Scene which is the last microelement. Lighting helps to convey the character representation and mood of the scene as it is usually manipulated to create an effect on the audience. Colour is the contrast that is evident the most in a scene. It also creates mood and makes different representation to get a specific audience response. Often lighting and colour complement one another and are used together to make a double effect on the spectator. These are important as subconsciously the audience always makes assumptions about the scene/character basing on lighting and colour. Without these the viewer will be confused on who they should support and who they should loathe.

Lighting is divided into two sections which include:

·         Angles- the positioning of the lights

·         Type -the way the lighting is used e.g.: dark or light

 

Angles:

Top Lighting: the light comes from the top which makes the character look holy and glamourizes them. It also makes them look innocent and good as the light comes down on them as if coming from heaven. The top lighting makes the audience feel in favor toward the character and put their trust into them as they can be seen as much more trustworthy characters. In this frame from Leon the Professional the character seems vulnerable and innocent as the top lighting comes down on her making her like a good person who the audience can sympathize. The top lighting from this still frame makes the scene seem positive and allows the audience to relax as they know that nothing bad could possibly happen in this calm atmosphere.

Under Lighting: the light comes from the bottom up. It creates a distortion to the face and makes them look superior and threatening as the created shadow disfigures the character which makes the audience question who they are. When under lighting is used the audience distances themselves from the character as they connote the darkness with a negative emotion and therefore think that they are someone to be afraid of. In this shot from the Dark Knight the still frame uses under lighting on the antagonist to create distortion to his face and make him look rather ugly. This makes the viewer dislike and fear him therefore supporting the protagonist. The under lighting makes the atmosphere chaotic and unsettled because the audience expects something bad to happen. 

Back Light: the light comes from behind of the characters/objects to create a fearful effect of them as the spectator cannot see the characteristics clearly enough to identify someone. The back light creates a silhouette which seems mysterious for the viewer. When the back lighting is used the spectator feels in danger as they are unaware of their surroundings which can make them uncomfortable. This shot from the Silence of the Lambs used back lighting to create a superior look to the setting and allow the viewer to make an assumption that something bad is going to happen. This is because the back light only allows to see the outlines without detail and therefore most of it is unknown for the spectator leaving them vulnerable and oblivious to their surroundings. The back lighting creates a fearful and threatening information because of the lack of clarity and details in the frame. Therefore the audience is in much vulnerable position as they do not know what is it exactly that they are exposed to.

Types:

High Key Lighting: the lighting is bright and seems welcoming and warm. It connotes to heat and innocence. The high key lighting can create a mood of something positive as often light is connoted to affection and kindness. When the high key lighting is used it can make the viewer feel safe and sympathetic toward the character. This shot from the Insidious has a high key lighting because the frame seems like glowing with warmth and affection. This makes the audience feel safe as they infer that nothing bad can happen in such a pleasant environment.

Low Key Lighting: the lighting is dark and seems threatening and superior. It connotes to danger and death. The low key lighting can create a mood of something negative as usually darkness symbolizes evil and pain which makes the viewer feel insecure as they suspect that someone is going to be hurt. This still image from Knowing has low key lighting to make the frame look dangerous and threatening for the viewer. It makes the audience assume that something bad will happen as the darkness usually brings tragedy and fear.

 

Colour:

In the film industry colour creates a mood by the subconscious connotations that the audience has for specific tint. These are some of the colours used in thrillers and their meanings:

Red: this is a still image from the thriller Seven. The main shade of this frame is red which connotes to blood and danger. This colour also connotes to heat and fire with links with destruction and threat. This is image makes the audience insecure and sacred as they can expect to be exposed to a murder or terrorism.

 

 

Navy Blue: the still image from the Shutter Island has a shade of dark and misty blue to it. This colour connotes to mystery as it is an intense colour that is heavy and hard to see through, therefore it makes the viewer think that the character is in danger as they seem oblivious to their surroundings and lost. In addition the viewer is vulnerable as well as they are unclear what might happen next.

Green: usually green has connotations of hope and nature. However if its toxic and gloomy like in this image from Saw then the colour associates with danger and disgust. This frame makes the spectator feel unpleasant as the shade has connotations of sickness which therefore allows us to assume that something disturbing will happen.

 

Further Analysis of Lighting and Colour:

 

 

 

 I decided to analyse a still frame from the psychological thriller, the Black Swan. At the first sight the viewer can see that the main colour scheme of this shot is black which connotes to evil intensions and darkness or isolation of the character. In addition black connotes to being distraught and upset so we can assume that this is how the character is feeling at the moment. However this can be juxtaposed by the bright top lighting coming down on the female character which can propose purity and being holy as the light comes down from the above supporting the idea of blessing. This can also mean that the character has hope and tries to be positive in the pessimistic inner world. In addition the two colours have a huge contrast which can emphasize on the conflicting emotions. It can also be an interpretation of ‘good vs evil’ and the morals of what’s right and wrong. In this particular shot we can assume from the dominating black colour that the character is much more negative. In addition there is a slight back light which contrasts the idea of purity as the lighting creates a superior silhouette of the character making them look threatening because the audience is not able to see their intensions. Simultaneously, the use of lighting has created a sense of isolation. This is portrayed by the black background to show the emptiness and loneliness. The top lighting has highlighted this idea by the way it displays a single figure showing that the character is in fact alone. The black colour connotes loneliness and melancholy which are feelings that we feel when we are alone. Lastly the costume is white which implies honesty and good will, however the overall image makes the representation of this character unclear yet fascinating as the mysterious nature is intriguing.

 

Conclusion:

Overall, from this lesson I have learned how important lighting is to create different mood and atmosphere. It is also important to help create a representation of character and convey their inner nature and intension. Therefore I have learned how important it is to have low key lighting on the antagonist to show their evil intension; but use high key lighting on the protagonist or victim to show their innocence and purity. Moreover learning about different angles of lighting has made me realize how to intensify the character and make them look naturally evil or good as lighting is often not taken into account as much because it looks fluent and natural part of the scene. This research was beneficial as I now know that I want to use back lighting at the beginning of my opening to make a threatening impression and make my audience insecure so they can engage with the sequence. I also decided that I must use top lighting on the protagonist to portray them as a good character who the audience ought to look up to. Lastly I plan to use green and rotten yellow in order to establish the genre.