Lighting
Film Codes and Conventions
Lighting effects
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Light plays an important role in our daily lives,
influencing our activities, moods and cultural
development.
Changes in light due to time of day, season or
geographical location can have powerful effects.
What feelings, moods or activities do you associate with
the following?
morning sunshine
night time/darkness
bright summer days
strong fluorescent lighting
campfire light
candlelight
cloudy winter days
twilight
Technical features
The control of lighting in film and television
has three main purposes:
1. To capture objects on film with sufficient
clarity and detail
2. To direct the viewer’s attention within
the frame (e.g. by spotlighting)
3. To achieve artistic and dramatic effects
of mood, emotion and so on
Three point lighting
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Key light: the main source of light for the scene,
generally placed in front and to one side of the main
subject.
Fill light: placed opposite to the key light, it softens
shadows created by the key light, and ‘fills out’ the
subjects so that they appear three-dimensional rather
than flat.
Backlight: a third source of light directed behind the
actors to help them stand out from the background
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcMX1RcNRYA
Low-key lighting
Low-key is subdued, uneven lighting with
noticeable shadows.
 It creates a feeling of confinement and is good
for building atmosphere. Because details may be
hard to see, low-key lighting can be used for
creating suspense.
 Low-key lighting is often associated with
American gangster and detective films from the
1930s, 1940s and 1950s (film noir).
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The Big Combo (1955)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
Ministry of Fear (1944)
High-key lighting
High key lighting is bright, even lighting with few
shadows.
 It creates a sense of space and depth and is
good for providing visual detail. Because nothing
is hidden, high-key lighting tends to work
against visual suspense, instead of creating a
sense of safety or at least neutrality.
 High-key lighting is commonly used in musicals
and comedy, where the tone is light.
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Jerry Maguire (1996)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaiSHcHM0PA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWaWKQqoyu4
Colour
Filmmakers often use colour filters or
colouring effects to alter the tone of
images.
 Colour in film is often used to convey
mood, atmosphere and feeling, and
sometimes it is used symbolically.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TouLbBtUR2Q