Inspiration: Film

I have looked at various films for inspiration in as far as mood, lighting, story and characters.

THE UNTOUCHABLES

I looked at The Untouchables as it has great examples of moody lighting. I also looked at this film because of its classical style of the 1920s - 1930s. It certainly has visuals that are typical of the film noir genre.

LEON

Leon is a great assassin/hit-man movie. I want to emulate the style and mood within a contemporary setting. Leon is about a hit-man who is an obsessive compulsive who is excellent at his job and is completely focused in his work, however when he becomes involved with a young girl his situation becomes more complicated which consequently leads to his downfall. I took the detail of Leon having to move from place to place due to his job as inspiration for my own idea. I had the idea that the apartment itself will be sparsely furnished implying that the character is not very well off and there is no point in furnishings.

SE7EN

I looked at this film purely for its film noir qualities, its mood and effective use of lighting.

BLADE RUNNER

Blade Runner has superb lighting. This is because lighting in each frame is carefully considered and is key in creating the desired mood and atmosphere. The lighting and in many cases the absence of light in numerous scenes not only enhance the visual splendour of the film but also depict a sense of mystery and realism. The contrast in lighting makes for a more interesting looking film. What is interesting about this film is the fact that the star is quite often backlit or in almost complete darkness with the occasional highlight. It is a good example of bold lighting that is different. What was interesting about Blade Runner was its use of both classical and futuristic designs that worked well together on screen.

SIN CITY

Sin City is a good example of a contemporary film which attempts to mimic the film noir genre in as far as lighting and atmosphere. Its use of light and the increased contrast gave it a visual edge. This was certainly deliberate to create a live action film that had the style of a comic book.

LE SAMOURAI

A good film which explores the routines of a meticulous hit-man set in France. I looked at this film that was recommended tome by a tutor. This film has great examples of film noir visuals in as far as lighting and mood.

COLLATERAL

I looked at this film not only because it features a hit-man but because of its mood/ atmosphere and lighting. This is a good example which has film noir elements and is a good blend of the classical and contemporary.