Film: Making Meaning Film: Making Meaning 11

Micro Element: Micro Element: LightingLighting

A guide to developments in A guide to developments in lighting and associated terms lighting and associated terms

and stylesand styles

Conventional Three-Point Lighting Conventional Three-Point Lighting Set-UpSet-Up

Key light or main light

Fill light

Back light or kick light

The Back Light (or Kick The Back Light (or Kick Light)Light)

Back light – positioned behind the subject in Back light – positioned behind the subject in frame, separates the subject from its background.frame, separates the subject from its background.

== gives depth to the mise en scgives depth to the mise en scène, stops the ène, stops the character being absorbed into a flat backdrop. character being absorbed into a flat backdrop. Creates a long, or deep, depth of fieldCreates a long, or deep, depth of field

The Main Light (or Key The Main Light (or Key Light)Light)

Key light/front light/main light – is often positioned Key light/front light/main light – is often positioned near the camera, pointing toward the subject near the camera, pointing toward the subject

== lighting the scene or subject for the audience to see lighting the scene or subject for the audience to see and comprehend. Can be quite stark used on its ownand comprehend. Can be quite stark used on its own

The Fill LightThe Fill LightFill light (or side light) is usually positioned at an Fill light (or side light) is usually positioned at an angle and to the front of the subject.angle and to the front of the subject.

The fill light adds definition and depth to a subject. It The fill light adds definition and depth to a subject. It produces what we call modelling, where the surface produces what we call modelling, where the surface of the subject reveals any ripples, bumps or hollowsof the subject reveals any ripples, bumps or hollows

Flat LightFlat LightFlat light is rubbish.Flat light is rubbish.

It’s very dull and uninteresting It’s very dull and uninteresting

2 point lighting2 point lighting

Low-Key LightingLow-Key Lighting

Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now

High-Key LightingHigh-Key LightingCommon in musicals, especially those from MGM

Powell and Pressburger’s The Red Shoes

Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro is the use of dramatic lighting and the dramatic contrast of light and dark. The sense of drama serves to give the image an emotional power this originates in art and is a feature of the Baroque style.

Source or diegetic lightingSource or diegetic lighting

Diegesis – the world within the narrative. Diegetic sound and lighting are part of the character’s world, they’ll be as aware of it in the story

ExpressionisticExpressionisticDario Argento’s Suspiria (1977)

Carol Reed’s The Third Man (1944)

Can connote a feeling or emotion

NoirNoir

Expressionistic, low-key lighting and chiaroscuro effects are part of the film noir style/genre

ContrastContrastLow contrast

High contrast

SaturatedSaturatedDrenched in one or sometimes more colours.

LuridLurid

Shining or glowing with an overly bright or unpleasant colour Examples:

•a lurid neon sign•the lurid lighting of a nightclub•‘The light from the fire cast a lurid glow on everything’.