Film Noir and Lighting

Film Noir is a style of film making that has different ways of introducing varies plots,effects  and characters (Conventions). This is most often achieved by cinematography and lighting. Lighting can be broken down into Low/High Key lighting this produces light well known as chiaroscuro. three-point lighting uses a key light, a fill light, and a back light for illumination and back lighting is used to create silhouettes which makes films more mysterious. 




 In order to make the character seem mysterious and dark , the mise - en- scene uses a low lighting to contrast between low and dark parts.  The lighting coming from the right side of actors face illuminates the entire image which suggests the character is a protagonist.  The fact the light highlights him and the couch in the background suggests that represents him very well; someone who spends majority of their time working in their office. The left of his face is hidden from the light suggesting he has a mysterious side to him which might be difficult in hiding from his everyday life e.g the how the light captures his loose tie and slump figure. But he might seems to have characteristics of antagonist too ( chiaroscuro). 




Activity 2 


The scene from Lights Out uses high-key lighting as it uses filler lights to show a dimly lit scene. This gives it an interesting effect as the scene is supposed to take place during the night- with the absence of the filler lights the characters facial expressions will not be seen. There is still a contrast between light and dark, but it is more subtle. This gives creates tension in the scene as the contrast suggests that both characters have two sides to them. Good and Evil. 

The extract also uses both top lighting an under-lighting to produce the given effects that set a suspenseful and melodramatic tone to the scene. Diana's  face isn't only illuminated using under-lighting.