Colour Palette help please

[andrew00]

Hey,

So I've a music video shoot coming up and the singer wants to wear a somewhat moody outfit of black converse, black jeans, black coat over black and white chequed shirt, he is also himself a black man and has long black dreads!

I'm struggling to think of a colour palette for this video, something consistent but nonetheless exciting and complimentary.

Can anyone please suggest a colour scheme that plays well with black and white, aka where I can have the sets/scenes all vibrant but complimentary to the b+w look of the singer, without dominating him.

Oh I'm also really interested in this topic in general, I don't suppose anyone can recommend any literature etc where I can buff up in this kinda stuff?

Merci!
a x

 

[craigbowman]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I'm DPing a feature project at the moment and this is one of the characters who also is also designed as completely black.

It does present certain challenges, but just remember that black is a neutral colour and goes with everything!

 

[andrew00]

Hey, thanks for posting those grabs, very interesting stuff.

Aye, the b+w does go with everything, although I'm trying to not have them be overshadowed by the background. So on the one hand I'm tempted to use a lot of red and blue in the background, lots of sparkly bits, those that twinkle (in a manly heh) way with the light.

But at the same time if I overload things I'll have this vivid backdrop with this comparatively mundane look to them, so I guess I've gotta find a way of using colour without it being too much. Not so easy! I guess a de-saturated look is in order. That and ensuring the band move a lot, if they can't dress vividly to draw attention, they can at least be kinetic.

 

[ggoggin]

i'd get really creative with the grey scale, going from off white through grey blues, to charcoal. can be really interesting, doesnt have to be sparkly or whatever to be interesting. that way you aren't 'fighting' what he's wearing, but complimenting it.