- CODES AND CONVENTIONS -
SCI-FI:
- Bright lights - Handheld or personal lights - Bright buildings and vehicles - Muted colours - Harsh lighting - Wide shots - Close ups - Lens flares |
FILM NOIR:
- Close ups - Low light - Common use of shadows - Use of atmospherics: rain, smoke. - Push ins - Strong emphasis on shadows - Directional lighting - Use of silhouettes |
Film Noir:
Shadows, lamps and criminal underworlds: Why film noir looks so cool
N/A. (2016). Shadows, lamps and criminal underworlds: Why film noir looks so cool. Available: https://www.pooky.com/2016/02/09/shadows-lamps-and-criminal-underworlds-why-film-noir-looks-so-cool#:~:text=They%20use%20heavily%20stylised%20cinematography,contrasting%20dark%20and%20light%20shades.&. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
N/A. (2016). Shadows, lamps and criminal underworlds: Why film noir looks so cool. Available: https://www.pooky.com/2016/02/09/shadows-lamps-and-criminal-underworlds-why-film-noir-looks-so-cool#:~:text=They%20use%20heavily%20stylised%20cinematography,contrasting%20dark%20and%20light%20shades.&. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
This article was short but informative. It really gave me a good idea of how the use of light, or rather the lack of it, is really key to the whole Film Noir vibe. The focus on shadows and the nighttime has to be front and centre in my production if I want it to truly emulate the look and/or feel of Noir film.
Pushing Low-Key Limits: A Cinematographic History of Noir and Neo-Noir
David Vanden Bossche. (2020). Pushing Low-Key Limits: A Cinematographic History of Noir and Neo-Noir. Available: https://cinea.be/pushing-low-key-limits-a-cinematographic-history-of-noir-and-neo-noir/. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
David Vanden Bossche. (2020). Pushing Low-Key Limits: A Cinematographic History of Noir and Neo-Noir. Available: https://cinea.be/pushing-low-key-limits-a-cinematographic-history-of-noir-and-neo-noir/. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
This lengthy piece was a comprehensive guide to the origins and evolution of the Genre of Film Noir. It was thoroughly educational, and gave me a much better idea of the genre's history, as well as providing fascinating technical insights and filmmaking techniques. I took special care in noting how film noir had evolved into latter decades, morphing its overall style, but still retaining the basics of Noir. This fusion of new and old is essentially what I'm aiming to achieve, so seeing the whole thing mapped out chronologically was a great help.
The Dark Beauty of Film Noir in 50 Perfect Shots
The Nitrate Diva. (2017). The Dark Beauty of Film Noir in 50 Perfect Shots. Available: https://filmschoolrejects.com/film-noir-perfect-shots/. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
The Nitrate Diva. (2017). The Dark Beauty of Film Noir in 50 Perfect Shots. Available: https://filmschoolrejects.com/film-noir-perfect-shots/. Last accessed 9th Feb 2022.
This is quite simply what it says on the tin: 50 beautiful shots from noir films from the 40's and 50's. Looking through these was a great way to build a good mental guide to the sorts of lighting and shot setups that might be best to echo that style. It also gave me an opportunity to discover new films from those decades, which I will hopefully watch some of to assist in my research.
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These two instructional videos made it abundantly clear to me that in order to achieve the look of a noir, I would need to make sure the lighting is right. The most prominent form of lighting in film Noir according to the videos, is three-point-lighting, which I have learnt about in previous units. In order to do this style of lighting I think I shall have to use my own lighting, so I can control and exaggerate it according to what looks best, and to suit my style.
Film Inspiration
below are some images from the films I have been taking inspiration from. It made sense to me to also use still from these films to inspire the lighting, colour and camera angles in my FMP.
Blade Runner (1982)
Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)
Dark City (1998)
The Third Man (1949)
- Big Brother -