Realistic vs. highly stylized lighting

Futchibon

Futchibon

Well-known member
I was watching FAIR GAME the other night and loved the realistic lighting in it. Obviously in this day and age with highly sensitive digital cameras and super-fast film stock, it is much easier to use practicals and small lighting grids to light entire films, thus giving both a realistic feel and freeing the camera operator up by not having to worry about getting light stands in shot all the time.

This new trend in realistic lighting has gotten to the stage that now when I watch older films - even as recent as only 10 years old, much of the stylized lighting seems somewhat fake. And I'm not talking about badly lit films either. It's just that I'm so into this new realistic look that the stylized look makes me less able to believe in the stories and acting as much anymore.

Do you know what I'm saying? What are your thoughts?
 
Well I don't think it's a modern vs. old film thing. The TV show Homicide: Life on the Street and it's follow-up The Wire are known for their realistic lighting.

Can you point to some more examples of the films you're talking about? Realistic vs. stylized? That will help us get a better picture of what you're talking about.
 
It just depends on if your making a drama like revolutionary road, or a movie such a kickass. One calls for very realistic lighting while the other calls for a bit more style.

With a stylized approach I think it's all about riding that fine line of not drawing attention to the lighting itself, but having that lighting add to the story. Just off the top of my head...the matrix has a really stylized look and distinct tones for each location in the story and they all work great.

Another one is Scott pilgrim...good use of very stylized camera and lighting techniques that don't detract from the story. Really just movies shot by Bill Pope, he seems to have a knack for that sort of thing as I just inadvertently named two movies he's shot.

I think it's a mistake though to automatically assume that faster film speeds means more realistic lighting. It's the quality, not quantity. Not to say that it doesnt allow you to soften your light just that little bit more with the extra stop you now have, but it's just a little misleading.
 
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