Creative Uses of Lighting: Establish Character

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Ryan Patrick O'Hara

Veteran
Writing an article about light and how a cinematographer can manipulate visuals to add visceral subtext to a story.

Right now I am working on how creative lighting can help support a characters... character.

Meaning, how lighting a character in a certain style helps add subtext and strengthen the character.

I need help finding examples.

What I have so far: The Godfather. Lighting the godfather to have sunken dark eyes is a creative choice of lighting which tells us so much about his character immediately.


This is similar but different to lighting a character to show how they are feeling at a moment. I am looking for examples of special lighting which is a motif of the character for the majority of a film. Any ideas?
 
All The Presidents Men, Gordon Willis and Deep throat, add a little depth to that Godfather example...

Also look at Amelie, the bright even filled presentation of her character by Bruno Delbonnell establishes her character as a very neutral person and goes with the french character story approach rather than hollywood narrative story approach.
 
I would look into old black and white films that were done in the 30's and 40's. AMC network, IFC or turner classics are a good source. Also, movies like Citizen Kane, Blade Runner, The Rocketeer, Tucker, Too Kill a Mockingbird, or British made cinema like Harry Potter series that uses hard lighting techniques. In addition...look into art books or paintings,,, they will show you how light is used.
 
whats that movie where the guy is talking about his father and the rain is bouncing off the wondow and it makes the light reflect the rain and it drips down his face. Ill look around and see if i can remember it.
 
Depend how you contrast the background light and character light. Color between those 2 layers will change the feel of the character.
 
All great suggestions....


To clarify, I am looking for a consistent lighting motif. For example: the example from "In Cold Blood" is a classic... but it informs the audeince of the characters mood/feeling/thought at that moment... not a motif the character embodies for the majority or entirety of the film.

I am looking for a character who has a certain type of lighting motif which remains constant (not his/her mood in the moment) or constant until eventually changing b/c of character arc.

That clear things up?

Example from a book I just read:

The Natural: "The Lady in Black" the temptation that leads to Roy's downfall. She is always lit dimly and is somewhat shadowy- an ephemeral figure."

The character has a motif of lighting which portrays the type of character she is. Shadowy, mysterious, untrustworthy, etc. This lighting does not reflect her character in the moment, but her character in general. Hope this helps you understand the types of examples I seek.

-Ryan P. O'Hara
 
Ryan,
I think you may want to go back to Brando in Apocalypse Now. Kurtz is consistently lit in shadow and half-shadow. Partly because Coppola/Storroro wanted to conceal Brando's weight gain, but mainly because it creates a feeling of mystery and the fractional nature of the character (the American soldier/pagan God dichotomy)
Hope this helps, and good luck
 
If I remember correctly, Deakins has mentioned something to the effect of in Shawshank they tried shooting Andy on the key light side of his face most of the time while the other inmates on the fill side. Obviously wasn't always the case, but might work for you.

Of The Fountain transitioning between shadow and light might work as well.
 
CovenantPictures said:
Can't wait to read the article man.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's coming along very slow... not because I am NOT working on it... but because I really got myself in deep this time!

I'm only 1/5th of the way finished and it is REALLy long!

The article is the first of a series about lighting. Appropriately the first article is called "Lighting Series Part I: Why We Need Light"

And boy do the reasons and explanations sure build up.

DVXuser always gets the exclusive first look, as I depend on you guys for feedback and slight editorial duties! (As with example suggestions and etc.)
 
a very basic example would be Anjelica Houston's character in the Addams Family. No big mystery behind it, but she was always dimly lit with very highlighted eyes, simple but effective.
 
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