Lighting and Early Days of Film In the early days, Thomas Edison developed a camera that weighed over 500 pounds! It was called a Kinetoscope and required electricity to operate. It was carried on train tracks: the action came to the camera!

Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope

Lumiere brothers invented the cinematographe It could be carried easily and used a hand crank to operate it so no electricity required. This led to the first “reality” films. They would travel to different cities, shoot film in the day and then show the film that night: called them “actualities”. The public was fascinated and thrilled to see themselves on screen with these “moving pictures”. No sounds were recorded on the films so they had an organ playing live music in the theatre.

The cinematographe

The cinematographer Also knows as the director of photography (DP) is responsible for arranging and controlling the lighting of a film and the quality of the photography. Can you think of a director whose films have a certain “look” or “lighting scheme” which is dominate throughout all of their films?

Tim Burton Beetlejuice Edward Scizzorhands Nightmare before Christmas Sweeney Todd Others?

different styles of lighting: the lighting is geared to the theme and mood of a film as well as it’s genre. High Key: comedy and musicals use bright even illumination and few shadows. High Contrast: tragedies use this type of light with harsh shafts of lights and darks Low Key: mysteries and thrillers use this type of lighting with diffused shadows.

FILM NOIRE (black cinema) A style of film that was defined by its lighting scheme, or lack of it. Very prominent in the early 40’s and 50’s. Noir is a world of night and shadows with dark streets and smoke swirling in dimly lit lounges. The characters were often in situations where they felt trapped, disappointed, or pessimistic. “Sunset Boulevard” was a famous movie and it was about an actress who is aging and losing her popularity among fans.

Sunset Boulevard “ Alright Mr. Demille, I’m ready for my close up”1950

Color Color in film didn’t become popular until the 1940’s. In early films, they hand painted each frame of the film. For example, in “Birth of a Nation” the film was colored red when it shows the burning of Atlanta during the civil war and it was colored blue for night scenes. Although the “ Birth of a nation” was a cinematic wonder filled with excellent photography it was a very controversial and racist film that told a story of the civil war and the rise of the KKK. ( Ku Klux Klan)

“Birth of a Nation”

Wizard of OZ The Wizard of Oz is an excellent example of the use of color in films. When Dorothy is in Kansas, the film is black and white (monochrome) and then when she arrives in OZ, the beautiful colors are revealed.

Three point lighting Whether you are using film or video cameras, the industry standard is “three point lighting” The key light: the main source of illumination and used to define facial features The fill light: fills in shadows caused by the Key Light The back light: provides depth to the scene and separates the subject from the background

Three point lighting diagram

Fresnel Lights Fresnel Lights: very common in tv, theatre and film lighting. They are recognized by their concentric circles on the lens. It can be focused as a “spot “ light or a “flood “ light. It it is named after its inventor (Augustin –Jean Fresnel) which invented these lights for light houses in the early 1800s.

Scoop Lights Often used for general lighting. Creates a soft pool of light Bare bulb Sometimes used for rehearsals

Some other lighting terms: Barn doors: adjust the light Gels change the color of the light Scrim : diffuses the light so it is not as harsh and direct