How does 'Lighting & Color' enhance the story - Film Studies

Atmosphere - feel in space/ energy around you

Mood - how you/someone feels

Location - Place where something is happening.

Lighting:

Natural - light that comes from nature. sun, moon, stars, lightning, etc.

Artificial - Man-made light source. Electricity, lightbulb, etc.

Warm light - yellow or orange tone that makes you feel happy/warm.

Cold light - Blue or a white tone - clean/clinical.

Bright - A bright light fills the space to that there aren't many shadows

Dull - A dull light will only fill parts of a space.

Colour - Colour palette: What are the predominant colors used.

Warm colors - make us feel warm and welcoming. It has the happy and friendly colors.

Cold colors - Isolated, chilly, and makes most people feel dark and gloomy.

- Clean and clinical

Brainstorm 1 (Lighting/Color):

What is happening? -

Coraline and her family are having breakfast in the real kitchen. They look rushed and tired.

Describe:

Lighting - 

Natural lighting with clouds coming through the windows.

It feels like a cold colors with the white tone.

It has a bright tone to it.

Color - 

The color that pops out the most is this yellowish-white color making the place look cold. 

It makes that space feel tired and lonely.

Effect on the viewer (Think/feel):

Boring, Dull, Depressing.

We understand from the picture that they aren't the happiest of families.

Coraline looks like she doesn't like it there.

Directors Purpose:

They made the place seem dull so the other world looks more appealing. 

Coraline doesn't like the real world.

Other techniques (Setting):

Outside the window that setting makes the place seem duller.

The furniture looks old.
It is very empty and doesn't look lived in.

Brainstorm 2 (Lighting & Color):

What is happening?

Coraline's other parents are eating dinner in the other kitchen.

Everyone seems happy.

Describe:

Lighting - 

Artificial/ feeling light

Warm - Yellow/ orange tone

Dull - some space dark

Color - 

Red, orange, white, and black.

Warm - happy, safe, and welcome.

Effect of the viewer:

Compact/close, interesting, welcoming, safe.

Coraline looks happy to be there.

Directers purpose:

Shows there looks can be deceiving because their family looks kind & happy but that turns out to be wrong.

Other Techniques (Costumes):

Formal, fashionable, tight-fitting, tidier.

Bright Black, red, white.

SEXXXY Paragraph - 

In the real world kitchen scene, lighting and color are used effectively to show looks can be deceiving. We see this when Coraline and her real parents are eating in the kitchen. The room is naturally lit from the cloudy window making the room feel dull and uninviting. The color in the room is grey and this yellowish-white. It is used effectively in this perspective for Coraline sees this place more as a place to stay instead of a welcoming and loving home. This makes the audience feel like Coraline doesn't really want to be where she is. The director did this to show how Coraline feels in the real world compared to the otherworld because in the other world the colors have a light and warm tone whereas the real world has a cold and dark tone.

In this scene with the Other Mother and Coraline, The lighting and coloring are used effectively to show the theme looks can be deceiving. We see this when Coraline is walking through the door of the other kitchen for the first time, seeing the warm tone of colors, as well as the dull lighting making the place, feel homey and safe. This makes the audience think that the other world is the better home for Coraline because of the warm colors. The director did this to make a contrasted to later on in the movie where the other world looks less safe with the cooler colors like blues and the dark tones that overshadow the other world.