Lighting

Dropping some lighting knowledge...

    Lighting is one of the most important elements in creating a mood in a short film. It can set the tone, create depth, and evoke emotion in the viewer. Lighting choices can help to create a specific mood, such as suspense, romance, or drama, and can also highlight specific elements in a scene, such as a character's face or a particular object.

     For example, low-key lighting with strong contrasts between light and shadow can create a sense of mystery, while high-key lighting with even, diffused light can create a sense of optimism or innocence. The color of the light can also have an impact on the mood, with warm colors like orange and yellow evoking feelings of warmth and comfort, and cool colors like blue and green creating a sense of calmness or sadness.

     In addition to setting the mood, lighting can also help to convey information to the viewer, such as the time of day or the location of a scene. For example, natural daylight or warm artificial light can suggest a daytime scene, while cool blue light or harsh fluorescent light can suggest a nighttime or industrial setting.

My film choices...

    Using low-key warm lighting (naturally provided by the restaurant we are filming at) for our opening diner scene can create a sense of tension and even sparks of romance while still pushing the comforting aura of a diner. In addition, the low-key lighting with strong contrasts between light and shadow can create a sense of tension, suggesting that something may be brewing beneath the surface.

    The contrast between the warm colors and the low-key lighting can also create a sense of intimacy between characters, emphasizing the sparks of romance that may be present. This lighting choice can help to create a sense of anticipation and excitement in the viewer, drawing them in and making them curious about what might happen next.

    For the "plan scene," where the mood is more set by dialogue rather than lighting aspects, using high key lighting can help to portray focus. High-key lighting with even, diffused light can create a sense of optimism or innocence, which is fitting for a scene where characters are discussing a plan of action. By using this lighting, the focus can be on the dialogue and the actions of the characters as well, as this is where we see out characters play out on their true intentions.

My current to-do list:

• LIGHTS :      done!
• CAMERA :   up next...
• ACTION :     eventually!