Color in Film
Films have used many tactics to convey to the audience what emotions the characters are feeling, what the environment is like, or even what is about to unfold. Filmmakers use skills such as scale, metaphor, paradox, color lighting, and narrative. All of these techniques help the viewer understand what is happening on screen. In class, we were assigned to watch the films "Amélie" and "The Wizard of OZ" and break down some of the design elements of screen captures. I will insert the google summary of each film below as well as an example of each term used in the scene.
Amélie:
"Amélie" is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Delicatessen"; "The City of Lost Children") invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue.
Breakdown of the screen scenes: color, lighting, narrative
Color: The scene above is a beautiful balance of complementary orange and blue. The overall movie tends to be toned with shades of orange green and red. What makes this composition so interesting is the striking use of blue in the lampshade.
Narrative: This scene has a lot of tension. We can tell from the father's face that we are supposed to feel uncomfortable and awkward when we see the two of them together. The sepia tone also gives a very nostalgic vibe providing us more environment/character development.
Lighting: From filmmakers perspective, this lighting is fascinating to me. Not because it is anything unique or revolutionary but because it is done purely for effect and into practicality. The scene is lit more like a musical with lighting from above when realistic the lighting would not be that harsh at night or at that angle. It provides a more romantic and whimsical effect for the overall shot.
Wizard of OZ:
When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and en route they meet a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) that needs a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who wants courage. The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) to earn his help.
Breakdown of the screen scenes:
scale,metaphor, paradox
Scale: The combination of forced perspective and colors leads the viewer to believe that Dorthy is in a town inhabited by munchkins. This helps develop the strange environment that we find our protagonist in.
Metaphor: To me this scene has always made me think of this concept of false hope. The surroundings looks beautiful and promise a bright technicolor future but in reality we know that Dorthy is disappointed with what she finds in the emerald city. I believe that this scene is a strong example of a metaphor because of the creative design decisions made.
Paradox: this entire scene is a paradox due to the fact that he is not this powerful figure but comes off as one. he is simply a man behind a curtain playing mind games with his followers.