Lighting

Last week we were shown the basic set up of lighting equipment that would be used on film sets, and how the cinematographer can use light effectively. We discussed the many different ways you can describe light e.g. warm, cold, harsh etc. and also looked into the different areas that can be adapted in order to create different moods/tones and effects to shots within the film:

INT. (Intensity) - how bright or dim you desire the light to be, the intensity could range from something as dim as candle light to something as bright as sunlight.

DIR. (Direction) - the direction of the light can be controlled to create intended effects e.g. one side of someone's face in light while the other side is in darkness.

QUAL. (Quality) - whether a hard light or a softer light is being created by either the use of a small light source, which should create a hard light, or a larger light source, which should create a soft light.

C.T. (Colour Tome) - the use of certain colours to create a specific tone/mood or emotion by attaching Coloured Gels to the barn doors of the light, e.g. the use of red in 'Only God Forgives' (Dir. Nicholas Winding Refn, 2013) could be used as a reflection of the brutality of the violence within the film and symbolise blood. 

SPR. (Spread) - the intention to spread the light easily or focused on something specific within the shot. The use of a lens will help with wanting an even spread of light upon the shot, or buy using black card a dappled effect could be created by allowing the light to fall through the cuts in the card to create desired effects e.g. trees, or it could be used to focus on one thing within the shot.

DUR. (Duration) - The consistency of the light e.g. creating the effect of a light bulb flickering on and off and a flashing light, or a more constant spotlight could be used for the longer duration of a shot.