Lighting Deconstruction

Lighting Deconstruction: Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tim Burton)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 2007 film directed by Tim Burton. The lighting in this film is particularly impressive and perfect for inspiration for the opening of a horror film. Nearly all the film is shot in dark lighting with sepia/monotone colouring to give the piece an genuine look. However the blood, playing an important role in the film, remains bright, therefore the audience are immediately drawn the colour. To support this idea the characters also wear all dark colours, so as not to distract the viewers from the blood red. As the blood is so dramatic in colouring it does not give have an authentic look, but rather emits a surreal factor. All of the shadow in Sweeny Todd remains theatrical and supportive of the atmosphere of the scene and/or the character’s feelings. For example Sweeny Todd’s (Johnny Depp’s) face is often shot half in shadow to indicate his descendant into darkness and evil.



A horror still taken from media students at "Amityville horror"

The lighting focuses the viewer’s attention on the girl’s face to amplify her expression. The colour of the light, a yellowish orange tinge, intensifies the curves and use of shadow on her face, than if it were a bright light

The “lines” on the light indicate a blind on the window, implying the notion of lack of sunlight and claustrophobia.

The girl in the background is blurred deliberately to suggest ambiguity and mystery, hence the audience would be aware that the character is probably not to be trusted.

The background is kept dark and plain, so as not to confuse the audience’s attention away from the main character in the foreground.

http://www.rachelnichols.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/4/limit/all

YOUTUBE LINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1gMxT2R9z4

This youtube clip features techniques when trying to create dramatic lighting in black and white. The main advice given is to make sure that the dark shadows are crisp and the white areas are illuminated, and avoid “grey” sections. This can be achieved by a strong, bright light. The clip also discusses the importance of silhouettes for dramatic framing and for adding an element of mystery to a character. Other effective skills include the use of lighting up just a section of a character’s face, for example the eyes, to draw in the viewers attention and exaggerate emotion. The techniques gained from this clip will be useful when switching the point of view shots to the murders’, as we are thinking of changing the lighting and colouring to make the juxtaposition more effective.