Suspense Genre - Lighting, Hitchcock and The Godfather

by Unknown 02:54 0 comments Making Planning Research

My script falls into the suspense/thriller genre of film, using a 'drip-feed' method throughout Goldilocks' monologues building up the story and tension until the 'big reveal'. Researching the suspense/thriller genre, these particular films caught my eye with regards to design and lighting of the shots using chiaroscuro create elements of suspense, tension and mystery;

 Hitchcock Movies
1. Birds

2. Psycho

Throughout the research, old black and white movies pradominantly adopt the usage of high key lighting with several shadows for the use of symbolism as well as adding to the suspense. Although its unlikely we'll be doing this for symbolic reasons we will be looking further into how to create this chiaroscuro lighting in our interrogation room.

-The Godfather

However, The Godfather uses this style of lighting in the way we wish to also, using it in specific scenes focussing on one character or the tension between two characters, occasionally similar to an interrogation - using the lighting to show power and characteristics as well between the two. I also particularly like how the men are wearing black tuxedos, forcing their bodies into the back ground and emphasising their faces, and in turn forcefully focussing the audience.