Color and the look of a film – Visual Analysis

Have you ever wondered or noticed why certain films look a certain way tonally? It is not just a simple matter of color grading an image in post-production. A director works closely with a director of photography, production designer and costume designers to create a color palette that fits the story of the film. The color of the film is controlled on a set. Each story itself can be told in a plethora of ways – meaning, depending on what that story is about, and what is the thematic underpinning of it – the look of the film will often be based on those factors. For instance it may depend on the setting and the world within which the story takes place; time period, location of it. Therefore the color palette of the film will largely be dictated by these elements. So let’s start looking at some examples..

In a scene from The Usual Suspects below… look at this image, and try to see why it’s visually appealing as well as, in a sense, homogeneous.

See it?

How about…

It’s pretty cold isn’t it? Now imagine if Spacey was wearing an orange suit — wait, how about if all of them wore t-shirts of different vibrant colors. The image wouldn’t look correct, because it wouldn’t match the background, the walls. This is carefully selected, so it’s visually “in sync” so to speak with the environment. If you take it a step further, why these suits were chosen also fit what the scene is about. If you can recall it, it’s an infiltration so they have to blend by acting like service people. The backgrounds are carefully chosen however so that visually everything you see is appealing to the eye, so you don’t question its validity.

Let’s take a look next at Die Hard, and The Thomas Crown Affair. Why are flares for instance are used? It is afterall an element of the photographic process. Before JJ Abrams and many of the music video directors began to use it as a stylistic choice (at least in music videos) – John McTiernan and Jan de Bont were purposefully creating flares in Die Hard, and McTiernan on his own chose to utilize them in a scene, early on in The Thomas Crown Affair. Now one can definitely make a case for Abrams using flares not only as an emulation of Spielberg, by whom Abrams has largely been inspired – but using flares in Star Trek simply to make a film feel as if it is set in a distant future. Hence, it is not simply used as a stylistic choice, but a choice that adds to the story.

Take a look at the below video in which I’ve selected two bits from McTiernan’s comments on Die Hard and The Thomas Crown Affair to see how and why they’re used.

Notice how McTiernan uses the lens flare to his advantage – it actually means something within the scene it occupies. The dramatic value it creates cannot be argued, because it adds a certain sense of urgency, tension, and suspense.

Let’s take a look at another example of how a lens flare is used for a dramatic effect which adds value to the given scene.

In the film Rust and Bone – (very slight spoilers) – there is a scene in the film where Marion Cotillard’s character has spent a few months inside her house, away from everyone, depressed and lonely. Now she finally makes her way outside, where it’s bright and sunny. Light breaks through clouds and hits her face. The use of flares is quite heavy. The frame is filled with glares and flares. It’s overbearing, and it’s blinding to her and to us. However why it is used, is more important. It’s in no way a stylistic choice that has no meaning or purpose. The flares are full of purpose, because considering the fact she’s been in a self-imposed lockdown for months, in darkness – and she sees light for the first time – it’s blinding to her physically – and emotionally the flare’s use is logical. It’s overbearing.

This kind of use of flares or any photographic flaws – have purpose and drive the story and scene in which they’re used. The audience may not be consciously aware, but they feel it has meaning. In the back of everyone’s mind, they feel that its given use is right

Which brings us to a scene in The Dark Knight which is similar in execution, only the use of a flare is substituted with a powerful, overexposed light.

The Joker sits calmly in the interrogation room, which is lit only with a lamp on the table. It’s emotionally calm – the light creates this calm environment, no matter how dark the room actually looks.  

Cut – immediately – to an entire room filled with harsh, hard light – and a sudden slam of Joker’s face against the table.

This combination of harsh light, and the abruptness with which Batman slams Joker’s face against the table is masterfully executed by Nolan and Pfister to give the audience a jolt from calmness to a much more frenetic emotion. However, it’s the light itself that is the half of this emotion.

The particular scene itself, and the lamp lighting also serves another purpose, actually two.

1. It makes the Joker look menacing by the way he is lit. Adding to the characterization.
2. When the lights are switched on, we find out Batman was there the whole time – listening, being the detective that he is. Trying to glean information from the Joker, if any can be gleaned from him.

Light affects the audience’s feeling and emotions of scenes based on how it’s used. Next time you watch a film, pay close attention, be aware of the light of the given scene. Also, recall from your own life how you feel during certain moments of the day; afternoon – when the sun is directly above you, harshly bright, mid-afternoon – when they light becomes less harsh, the magic/golden hour – when the sun casts a beautiful warm glow to everything… Try to think how you feel during these moments of the day, or when you’re in a brightly lit room as opposed to a minimally lit room; how do you feel ?

Directors and DP’s exploit light to make the audience feel what they want them to feel in any given scene. Most of the time, none of this is left to chance – it’s planned, and executed to drive the story. Everything in film in essence is guided by the story and its themes.

If you take a look at this example from the opening scene of Joe Versus The Volcano – you’ll see the elements discussed above, and how they align with the content/story of the given scene. Joe works a dead end job which depresses him entirely.

This is his office. Take a look at the brick wall, its color, Joe’s suit is navy blue – the lamp is also blue (the sailship is actually his “dream” – in the same way Jamie Foxx’s “island” photo is his ‘dream’ and ‘escape’ from reality in Michael Mann’s Collateral)

Look at the light which falls on Joe’s face that the fluorescent lights create. It’s nauseating, just like he feels. Have you ever felt that way in a certain environment? I’d bet you have. Again, all of these elements are harmoniously fused to create this feeling. But the feeling is correct for the given scene and what it represents.

Now look at the following examples below, study them, analyze them, and see how color, light, production design play a role in creating a certain look for a film.

THE MATRIX

A lot of people who find this film to be something “cool” are people who simply look at a film and observe the surface. However, The Matrix’ green tint (and blue, which gets lost in discussions of the film’s look) are actually representations of the opposing realities. The green tint isn’t there simply for the film to look cool, it is there for a reason. It is the matrix. Its color palette is based on the green text code that is by now a part of pop culture easily recognized. 

The film has another reality, which is represented by the use of a muted, blue tint. This reality is the real world (that’s also debatable if you watch the subsequent sequels). These color choices are carefully selected so as to not only thematically, and symbolically represent the different, opposing worlds, but as to not confuse the audience as to what is going on, on screen.

Let’s take a look

As you can see, this is the matrix world, and it is represented by green tint. However, pay careful attention how the scheme is executed. It’s not simply a matter of shooting something and then just color grade it in post. As mentioned previously the color is controlled on a set. This means, it’s the wardrobe, it’s the props, it’s the production design, it’s the lighting. Study closely these images and look at how every element that occupies the frame makes the image somehow “right” for the frame. This is important. You can’t just have Neo – in the above image – wear a red suit, it just wouldn’t work. Careful selection and consideration must be taken when approaching how one is to film the scene. It truly is no different than painting, the frame is your canvas, and you fill that canvas with different colors.

Now let’s take a look at the real world. The blue tinted reality.

Do you notice how essentially every element of the frame supports that blue tint. Look at the sweaters they are all wearing, they’re grey – occasionally you get some color, like Cypher’s maroon vest – notice, it’s not bright red. It’s muted. All these color choices are carefully selected, never underestimate color and how it aids the particular look you are going for.

Study the rest of the images carefully.

  

ROBOCOP

Robocop’s color palette is no different; meaning the choices for the light, wardrobe, and locations are all carefully considered and are all there to represent the world in which the story takes place.

It’s got a very muted, cool color palette. The greys, blacks, and muted navy blues are harmonious. They represent the world, the setting (a futuristic Detroit) and the seedy underworld of it all. An excellent use of color.

DREDD

Now you’ve got another representation of a distant future, and there are more vibrant colors within this environment. I may be wrong on this since I haven’t checked out my facts, but I do remember a fan of the comic books commenting a few months ago on the official 2000AD forum that they actually got the colors from the comic books. Which is an example of how films and its crew can reach for the source material to tell their story.

This particular shot is done in post production, however it’s a wonderful example of the use of color to represent a concept, idea, emotion. In the given scene, it is the “lockdown” and the sense of urgency the color provides is a perfect way to represent it. Also, it fits in perfectly with the futuristic setting, as something like an entire building turning red is a plausible concept that could be implemented in a futuristic world.

As you can tell, it’s gritty and raw, yet still colorful, but the colors are utilized as elements of storytelling and not as something abstract and without meaning.

PROMETHEUS

Another example of a much more distant futuristic world. If you’ve watched the behind the scenes of Prometheus, Ridley Scott uses color thematically. It enhances the story, and moods he wants the audience to feel.

Watch how Peter Weyland, and Vickers – who are funding the expedition, are dressed. The suits are sleek, futuristic, and opposed to the crew, speak “rich” to the audience. The colors and choices are in essence thematic. Also, look at the first image and watch how the wardrobe itself is visually homogeneous with the background, and the props.

As you can see, their uniforms here are all visually similar even if not exactly the same; greys, slightly olive, and navy blues – against the silver, greenish tint. The environment is already created. The theme of the look of the Prometheus ship is established, now Ridley is not only dressing his characters thematically, but also he’s balancing the colors against the background of the sleek design of the ship.

This scene is slightly warmer, however the characters are dressed in such a way that the look works visually. Shaw isn’t dressed in a red robe, and even if she was – it would have to mean something on some level for the given scene.

Perfectly homogeneous. The colors are balanced within the environment, and they not only tell of a futuristic setting, but they have a clinical sort of feel – and it fits, because of what the scene represents, and its content.

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