Lighting Ratio's

In your own words, explain what lighting ratios are. What is high key lighting used for?  What is low-key lighting used for? How can you put this principle into effect with your film noir shoot?

    Lighting ratios are the comparison between the main light source and the light used to fill shadows. High key lighting is used for more dramatic lighting that has more depth. Low key lighting is used for creating flatter images. I can use this principle in my film noir by utilizing higher lighting ratios to create more dramatic lighting. I'd like to use this more intentionally in order to add to the visual storytelling.

Film Noir Scene Lighting

What are some issues you notice that the presenter runs into when lighting his scene? What are three techniques he uses to make the image look more cinematic?  How do they affect the shot?

    Some issues that the presenter runs into when lighting his scene are... Three techniques he uses to make the image more cinematic are... They affect the shot by...

Film Noir Lighting

Explain three of the key concepts that the presenter says are important for film noir lighting.  How does film noir lighting differ from lighting in other kinds of productions?

    Three key concepts that the presenter says are important for film noir lighting are... Film noir lighting differ from lighting in other kinds of productions...

What Defines a Film Noir Pt. 2

How did societal fears play into the storylines of film noir?

    Societal fears played into the storylines of film noir as...

What Defines Film Noir Pt. 1

What are some key defining features of the protagonist in Film Noir?  What are some key defining features of the femme fatale in Film Noir?

    Some key defining features of the protagonist in Film Noir are a fall; their morals deteriorate as they are put into more and more bad situations. In a lot of cases, the protagonist is a detective or private investigator, but he could also be a lot of different types of people. Some key defining features of the femme fatale in Film Noir is...

Watching Black and White Movies Pt. 2

How can black and white set a mood and create a tone?  How can it heighten realism?

    Black and white can set a mood and create a tone because it is one step-removed from reality. Black and white can create a heightened reality because it is a view of the world that doesn't really exist in reality. The surrealism is able to create dream-like quality. It also can create a bleak and inescapable mood because of the bazaar atmosphere. On the contrary, it can also be used to make the film feel like it's based in a true story because the black and white look can mimic the appearance of historical photos of a specific time period.

Watching Black and White Movies Pt. 1

How did german expressionism effect black and white cinema?  How did black and white enhance film noir?  How does black and white enhance other genre's?

    German expressionism affected black and white cinema as it embraced and exaggerated the concept that, without color, our brains would latch onto the shapes and contrast of the image. This style of cinema began to influence American films through the horror genre and inevitable evolved into the high contrast style of film noir. Black and white enhanced film noir as the dark themes of the genre are amplified by the stark contrast of the black and white image. Without color, it creates a visual conflict of darkness vs. light. Black and white enhances other genres as it had forced filmmakers to find other ways (besides color) to create visual interest such as texture, separation, contrast, and depth with a limited color palette.