Experimenting with Lighting

Film noir is all about low-key lighting, creating shadow. Lighting is expressionistic, creating mystery for the audience. To prepare for my OTS (opening title sequence), i decided to experiment with lighting angles and creating shadow across the face of a character.
Creating shadow all depends on the position of the person, and the position/angles of the light source. I used a simple bed lamp and used black paper to concentrate the light, and in the first image i used a small umbrella and bounce the light (so the light isn't so focused on the figure), this can give diffuse the light more evenly or create a certain texture/softness to the light rather than the harsh light created when the light is focused.

Image One: In this image, the light source is positioned at the bottom of the frame, pointed upwards. This way the bottom half of the face is bathed in light creating shadow around prominent facial features. If my character (OTS) was to use a mobile phone etc then this technique would be useful in lighting the face and creating mystery and shadow.

Image Two: In this image, the light is positioned behind the figure, this contrasts the foreground of the figure to the light source behind, and creates a brightened outline around the figure. As i am having a pursuit in my OTS this could be useful to show a figure approaching and creating (again) mystery and suspense, useful if i don't want to reveal the character's face clearly, instantly. By creating this silhouette, it creates tension - typical in Film Noir films.

Image Three: In this image, the light is to the left of the figure, this way the left hand side of the face is lit - casting shadow across the right, unlit side of the face. This brings definition to the facial features and note that the right hand side of the face is only visible by outline.

Image Four: In this image, the light is positioned above the figure, creating heavy shadow over the face and making the face difficult to distinguish. This could be very useful in my OTS when my figure is positioned under a street lamp etc as it again shadows the character's face, making them difficult to see clearly, and creates tension for the audience.

I am planning on used both the overhead lighting and the light source positioned below the face in my Opening Title Sequence - as they both create mystery and define the face, this i plan to use of my "victim", this way the audience can recognise facial expressions of worry and terror with ease, while the silhouette created by positioning the light behind i feel would be very effective to use on my femme fatale - this way the feminine silhouette would be highlighted and her face would also be shadowed to create more tension.

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Choosing the RIGHT actor/actress

I haven't been asked to write about choice of actor but i feel it's important.

The actor/actress you choose must fit the character, and have a certain level of acting skill, they are representing you and you're script, so a bad performance could reflect a bad script to the audience.

I recently found the casting list for the proposed "Summer 2010 blockbuster" and found both mistakes in their choices and good choices in general.

"The Last Air bender" is a film adaption of the Nickelodeon cartoon "AVATAR: The Last Air bender" - Avatar is set in an Asian-influenced world of Chinese martial arts and elemental manipulation. The show drew on elements from East Asian, Japanese and Chinese culture, making it a mixture of an anime like and US domestic cartoons.
The series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must save the world by defeating the evil Fire Lord and ending the destructive war with the Fire Nation.

SUCCESSES IN CASTING:

casting of Avatar Aang

"Last Air bender" Unknown Actor Noah Ringer as Aang, and the Cartoon Aang voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen.

This is a good choice of character, Noah clearly resembles the character, reflects the character's age, build, appearance etc.

MISTAKES IN CASTING:

casting of Prince Zuko

The entire series (Nickelodeon cartoon) is based in an Asian society, and out of the all of the characters it has to be said, Zuko is the teenage, banished, prince and his character reflects the most Asian qualities (dark hair), while the choice of actor is a BLOND, TANNED, AMERICAN, 20-SOMETHING YEAR OLD. When people think of Jesse McCartney, they think pop-singer, American teen, big cheesy grin.

Zuko is hard-faced, grouchy - a dark character, the casting for this is VERY wrong and could anger fans of the programming and it's deeper meaning.

And they did get angry.. which is why they realised the mistake as directors should and recast the part of Zuko to Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), a realised actor who resembles the character Zuko and his strong exterior.

Another mistake i realise now, is that Noah Ringer is completely UNKNOWN as an actor, all i can find out is that he is from Mexico, this is a big risk for the Director to take, considering that he is not aware of the audience's reaction to the boy's acting until the film is released.It is a risk if you're making a high budget film to hand your main part to a new actor, you are unaware of reactions.
Concluding, I felt these points were important to include, as i will be more likely to be thorough in my consideration for actor/actress choice. The person NEEDS to fit the part comfortably and bring the character to life on screen.

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