Light & Mood
Scene Re-Creation of:
“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” 2007
A Study of Lighting
Light as an actor:
When light underperforms, or worse, doesn’t show up at all! It’s hard to see your vision, or maybe anything for that matter! (Under Exposure). Maybe your light is a show stealer and taken over your entire production, washing out any opportunity for anybody else to shine! (Overexposure). But when you get it just right, that harmony brings something special to your work! Keep in mind there are exceptions, but for now…
It’s not only a question of too much, or too little, but how you would like your light to perform. There is a broad spectrum that light can be used to generate the mood you desire. Maybe you need light to express happiness, melancholy, romance, terror, suspense. The possibilities are practically endless!
For example, going back to what we said about exceptions in over/under exposure, you may have seen in cinema where one Director uses it as an example of clarity, enlightenment, or pureness. On the other hand another Director may have used it to disturb, terrify, and create tension.
You are the Director, use your direction and creativeness to utilize one of the world’s most talented collaborators, Light!
