WHY LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT... 'Lighting has come to be an important component of cinema's visual design. It is widely recognised that in film, as elsewhere, it can create a substantial emotional impact. A primordial response to darkness and light is a deep-seated element of human psychology that filmmakers have harnessed in order to influence the ways viewers respond to narrative development. On the one hand, deep shadows can make a character seem untrustworthy or conceal a host of horrors. On the other, bright, diffused lighting can provide comfort and reassurance or create the impression of an angelic countenance. Extremely bright light can cause discomfort, though, and can even be used as a weapon, as inRear Window(1954) andThe Big Combo(1955), where it dazzles the villains and halts their advance.' -www.filmreference.com
MORE MODERN EXAMPLES OF LIGHTING BEING USED TO SET THE MOOD OR CHANGE THE AUDIENCE'S PERCEPTION OF A CHARACTER...
This use of low key lighting symbolises the danger that the children are in and represents the evil character's personality. The lighting makes the audience feel tense because it implies that something bad is going to happen soon. This makes the scene more gripping and entertaining.
The Unfortunate Events of Lemony Snicket's (2004)
The Unfortunate Events of Lemony Snicket's (2004)
Marley and Me (2008)
This use of high key, warmer and more natural lighting holds no tension for the audience. This has been used to show that this is a happy scene in the film. High key lighting is used most of the time in this film because its genre is romance/comedy. This means there's no need for the film to scare the audience with darkness.
This use of high key, warmer and more natural lighting holds no tension for the audience. This has been used to show that this is a happy scene in the film. High key lighting is used most of the time in this film because its genre is romance/comedy. This means there's no need for the film to scare the audience with darkness.
Bride Wars (2009)
This use of high key lighting makes the scene look much brighter and happier. The producers have chosen to do this because this scene reflects a happy occasion. Again, this film is a comedy so there is a difference in the kinds of lighting the audience would expect to see.
This use of high key lighting makes the scene look much brighter and happier. The producers have chosen to do this because this scene reflects a happy occasion. Again, this film is a comedy so there is a difference in the kinds of lighting the audience would expect to see.
Woman in Black (2012)
This is a horror film about a man who has to stay in a scary house. This makes the low key, scary lighting completely justifiable. The producers have used low key lighting because it helps to foreshadow the danger the character faces. It also adds to the tenseness of the scene.
This is a horror film about a man who has to stay in a scary house. This makes the low key, scary lighting completely justifiable. The producers have used low key lighting because it helps to foreshadow the danger the character faces. It also adds to the tenseness of the scene.