JAYAPAVITHRA C.B 0909113 MEDIA AESTHETICS LIGHTING AND COLOUR
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JAYAPAVITHRA C.B
0909113
MEDIA AESTHETICS
LIGHTING AND
COLOUR
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SNAPSHOT 1
In this film, CASABLANCA directed by Michael Curtiz (1942) , cast shadows are used
extensively . Shadows Help clarify and intensify the specific shape and texture of people
and things . A cast shadow may connect with the object (object-connected) that causes
it or be totally free of it (object disconnected). Here the Director has aptly positioned a
lamp in the background throwing a cast shadow oddly . The shadow not only breaks the
monotony of the pale wall but also adds drama visually . It creates a mysterious mood
when the characters are talking and adds a tone of secrecy to the scene .
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SNAPSHOT 2
In this snapshot , again cast shadows are used in a different manner . Rick ‘s
Lighting helps create Rick s character into a powerful one and is illustrated in
the scene where Rick is retrieving cash from the safe .However you can see his
shadow cast on a wall. Captain Renault, a police prefect, stands respectfully at
the doorway, behind his shadow. As we can only see Rick’s shadow it creates
mystery about him and we wait as the safe door slowly swings open to reveal a
silhouette counting large sums of money.
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SNAPSHOT 3
Here is another snapshot, where lighting emphasizes the scene dramatically. The
background is casted with shadows of the leaves and the Police chief, standing erect.
This creates suspense to this scene where Ilsa along with her husband are talking to a
stranger; the audience is later introduced with whom that person is. Hence lighting adds
mystery and suspense here, in the form of shadows.
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SNAPSHOT 4
In this shot, a flashback scene in the film (Paris), instead of showing the name of the cafe
it was showed in the form of shadows in a bright light and emphasises happiness and
liveliness .
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SNAPSHOT 5
Silhouette Lighting is a Hybrid between Chiaroscuro and Flat lighting. Both these shots,
the first one from the movie Killbill , it is the silhouette of the lead protagonist and
appears during the beginning of the film credits . It creates a mysterious aura around
her and we look forward to what follows her in the movie .Usually silhouette lighting is
done against a bright background, but here it is done against a flat background in a
black and white mode to emphasize that all is not right.
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SNAPSHOT 6
In the second picture from the movie Pudupettai , silhouette lighting is used when the
lead actor is a confused state of what to do , and it is pictured dramatically , like the sun
rising , meaning awakening .
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SNAPSHOT 7
All these shots are from the film Casablanca, In the first shot, light is placed above eye
level and hence creates a normalcy and conveys a happy mood. This shot is from the
flashback of Rick s romance and the only part of the film where attached shadows are in
a normal and expected position.
The latter two snapshots are from the present of Rick s life in the cafe, Key light is
placed below the eye level of a person or object. Thus lighting reverses the attached
shadows and puts them in an abnormal position throwing odd shadows and on the
whole creating a dull and mysterious mood.
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SNAPSHOT 8
In the film , Casablanca , Chiaroscuro Lighting is used extensively throughout the film
.Chiaroscuro Lighting means lighting for fast-falloff and for light dark contrast. It
indirectly creates volume and gives drama to a scene. These shots affect our feelings
directly and determine a dominant mood and reflect emotions such as depression , loss
of power , fear , mystery in the film .
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SNAPSHOT 9
In the movie, The prestige, The funeral shot uses flat lighting. It has slow falloff and
highly transparent shadows that are almost not visible, thus conveying isolation and
detachment in this shot.
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SNAPSHOT 10
These two snapshots are from the film , Legally Blonde . In this the lead protagonist wears only
Bright pink and warm colours like red ,purple etc . This makes us predict about her
character , she is soft ,gentle , kind , lovable and cute , as we normally associate pink
with all these attributes .
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SNAPSHOT 11
This shot is taken from the film, The Time Travellers wife. This shot is an example of
warm colour, red, used in a landscape. Hence Red catches our attention. The scenes
Where the Lead actor talks to the small girl, is usually bright conveying happiness whencompared to the other parts of the film which is less saturated .
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SNAPSHOT 12
The film 7g Rainbow colony, Sonia agarwal wears mostly white and shades of white. In
the Indian culture white can be associated with surrender and death. Firstly she
surrenders herself in love to Kadir, then at the end of the film, when she offers her toKadir , she wears white again conveying the same meaning. When she is hit by the lorry,
she wears white again depicting death.
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SNAPSHOT 13
In the movie Killbill, Part 2 , The lead protagonist shares her flashback , which was kept
in mystery sparing a few details . In part 2 the film starts in a de saturated tone (black
and white) and stresses the importance of this part as the viewers had not expected a de
saturated tone and thus adds drama and importance in the film .
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SNAPSHOT 14
In the film, A nightmare on elm street , this particular shot of small girls , which is
saturated in a lighter shade of white is used whenever something unexpected is to
happen . Thus this attribute adds drama and gives information of what to perceive.
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SNAPSHOT 15
In the film , a Nightmare on elm street , Red colour is used extensively to depict danger .
So when we see red , we are able to predict that the character is in danger caught in
different situations .
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SNAPSHOT 16
In the film Trainspotting, a lot of red colour is used in shots involving drugs depicting
enthusiasm and Stimulation of energy, aggression . In some shots depicting love and lust
.Thus colour red displays emotion and adds to the drama.