This document provides an analysis of the cinematography, lighting, and sound techniques used in the 2016 Barry Jenkins film Moonlight. It praises Jenkins' ability to effectively light and frame shots of the all-black cast. Two shots of the main character Chiron are analyzed, with one showing him found in darkness but then bathed in light, representing hope. Subtle uses of sound are also discussed, like moments where Chiron blocks out noise or the audience can infer scenes without full audio. Overall, the document examines how Jenkins skillfully used visual and audio elements to convey meaning.

1. Directed by Barry Jenkins
Released 2016
Genre of Drama
Themes of sexuality, drugs, crime, family
Mise-en-scene: As I've recently learned, it's considerably more difficult to shoot
people with dark-skin than it is with light skin which is why I must give props to
the director for not once poorly shooting one of the all black cast. Barry Jenkins
even managed to do this while tampering with light to create meaning. For
example, the following shots:
Bothshotsare verysimilar.The positioningandangle isnearlyidentical.However,there are two
key differencesthatseparate these shots.Inbetweenthe firstandsecondshot,Chiron’ssoon-to-be

2. fatherfigure tore downa boarded-upwindow tofindChironthere,thusbaskingChironinlight.This
isa keydifference becauseitshowshope.Chironwasonthe floorcryinginthe dark before he was
foundbyJuan.The seconddifference;whichisamuch subtler,butinmy opinionjustaseffective
use of lighting,isthe verydarkhallwaythatispresentinthe secondshotbutnot the first.The
reasonthisis so importantisbecause itrepresentsachoice.Chiron(oras he’sknowninthisportion
of the movie,Little)canchoose togo withJuan,towardsthe light,or he can turn hisback on him
and returnto the dark isolationof hisnew hidingplace. He eventakesafew stepstowardsthe
hallwayinrecoil whenJuanfirstenters,showinghisreluctance totrustthisstranger,nearlychoosing
the lessfavourable optionof loneliness.
Sound:I don’tthinkthiswasusedas effectivelyasthe mise-en-scenebutthatisn’tto sayit didn’t
have itsshare of techniques.Forexample,there were multipleinstanceswhere we saw Chironbeing
bombardedwithsound,butstrangely,the audience heardnothing.Inone shot,hismotherisraining
downon himwitha veryvisiblyloudlecture,butall we canhearis a highpitched,subtle ringing.
Thisgivesussome insightintoChironasit showshe’sblockingoutthe noise;lostinthought.Thisisa
verygoodway to connote thathe isoverwhelmedandwouldprefertodrownoutall thishate he’s
receivingbysimplyreservinghimself inhisownmind.Thisisn’tthe onlyinstance where subtletyin
soundisused.We alsosee somethingsimilarinthe scene where KevinandChironare onthe beach
havingsome intimate relations.The cameraistoo close forus to reallytell what’shappeningbutdue
to the soundsof the actor’swe can easilyassume forourselves.