This week give your thoughts about the lighting in Desire. If you have been keeping up with the reading in the links I have been providing, you should be able to make some assumptions about how some of the lighting set ups were done for this film.
As always, any reseach or furhther analysis of the film as a whole is welcome.
Off you go.
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In addition to your film blog, I want you each to choose one of the links I provide below and do an brief review of it on the blog. Just a paragraph that sums up the key points. If everyone else has come along and said all there is to say about these particular articles, you should do a google search for your own article to comment on for the blog.
Thanks, Tim
Reading Assignments
http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/diy/
http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/terminology/
http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/video/
http://www.dvformat.com/2002/09_sep/tutorials/lighting101key.htm
http://www.charlieproductions.co.uk/appendix/howto/drawastoryboard.asp
http://www.dvformat.com/2002/10_oct/tutorials/lighting101fill.htm
http://www.dvformat.com/2002/10_oct/tutorials/lighting1013.htm
http://www.dvformat.com/2002/10_oct/tutorials/lighting101background.htm
http://dvformat.com/2002/11_nov/features/lighting101bounce.htm
http://www.mediaed.org.uk/posted_documents/lighting.htm
http://filmstudies.suite101.com/article.cfm/threepoint_lighting
Much of the key light in "Desire" was diffused and projected from above; the rembrant lighting that appeared in several scenes was indicative of this. In the close ups of Madame Duval, butterfly lighting was always used to make her appear more attractive. The overall mood of this movie was very sensual, and the cinematographers used soft key light and hot back lights to imply this mood. The scenes that took place outside didn't seem to interrupt the continuity of the lighting too much. This was probably because the film was in black and white, but a butterfly frame with a fabric diffuser may have been used to control some of the ambient light as well. In the beginning I noticed that the light seemed to be coming from large windows because we could see the long shadows from the crossbeams of the windows wiping across the floors and up the walls, and shadows from blinds could be seen, but the cinematographers may have also used cookies to block the light in specific areas to make it look like the light was coming through a set of blinds or large windows with crossbeams. In the scenes that took place outside at night, it looked like the cinematographers just used the prop lights that were on the house to suggest that it was night time.
I read the first article which talked about a "do it yourself" lighting kit. A few cheap halogen work lights can be used as light sources. Sunshades, whiteboard or sheets of foamcore could be used as reflectors, and extension cords would be needed for power and mobility. It's just a low-budget way to improvise instead of buying an expensive professional light kit.
Desire: Blog for Week 6
Well I think that overall everything in the movie was fantastic. I like a lot the drama, and the lighting in the movie. I realize that the lighting was really good because of the way it was use in her. Every time in a scene sometime I saw that some light came out of a large window. There was one part that I kind of did not agree with the lighting because of the brightness out side. i think that she play in the move as a sensual and smart woman with tricks under her sleeves.
Overall, I think the movie was great. I personally liked the way the created the glow effect off the female but that glow would never be seen on the other acters even if they we standin within two feet of each other.
In addition, I had the pleasure of reading through a webpage that briefly explain about a dozen common lighting terms. The term that stuck out the most to me was Colour Temperature. It spoke about measuring the characteristics of light and how light is measure. in kelvin.
In the film "Desire" I noticed a lot of flat lightening. They used 'modeling' I think its called. When the light shines on the side of the face for a more defined and sculpted effect, while the other half of the face was in darkness. For the most part, the lightening was very flattering and soft on the actors. I noticed some silhouettes and halo effects (like when the two guys were out on the balcony). I can tell that props were used to help with the lightening. But I don't think some of them were very realistic (like the candlelit scene--forgot what part of the movie it was, sorry.) But anyway, overall, I thought the lightening was fantastic and well done. The plot and all that was great too.
Oops! I forgot to put in a review on the links too. Well, I read over some of the pages and the one that stuck out at me was the one that talked about placement of the key lights. At first it didn't make a whole lot of sense because I couldn't really see what they were talking about with all the '7:00, 8:00's and what not. But anyway, the lightening pretty much went with the time, I guess similar to that of a clock. 7:00 most of the face was pretty well lit, 8 starts to look a little darker, 9 half of the face is lit, 10 and 11, most of the face is in darkness, and then when you get to 12 there's a halo around the girl's head. Honestly don't know what that has to do with a clock...but that's what it says =)
In "Desire" Marlene Dietrich was lit with the halo effect throughout the movie. I think it was to make her look more innocent and angelic. She probably had it in a contract to be lit a certain way as well. There was a lot of heavy light on the actors. A harsh key light that at times over exposed the white clothing of the actors. (in my opinion) The movie was pretty clever overall and I could see it being remade into a present day film. It would be interesting to see that with modern humor.
I thought the movie we watched was pretty good. the only thing that bothered me was her eyebrows. i think that the way they lit her in the movie actually made her look better than she probably did in real light. i also think that it would be cool to see it re-done in a modern fashion.
I read the article on three point lighting and it pretty much just says everything we've gone over in class.
The shadow that that ladys hand casted when she was trying to reach into his pocket to get the pearls had a really dark feel, that lighting stuck out the most to me
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