Lighting and Colour Analysis of Love Actually

1. ‘Love Actually’ Lighting
and Colour Trailer
Analysis
By Mary Hainsby

2. After the production company’s title “UNIVERSAL” a flash of
a blank white screen appears for just under a second. The
colour white has connotations of goodness, light and purity.
The colour white is often associated with safety. Generally
white has positive connotations which sets the trailer up to
be light and happy,.
The trailer opens with a mid-shot of the main character
(played by Hugh Grant) this shot then cuts to a two-shot of
another two characters. All characters look happy and have
smiles of their faces which creates a joyous, happy
atmosphere for the audience to experience. Low-key
lighting is used in the first shot to portray night time/evening
yet the characters face is illuminated which means the low-
key lighting does not create a dark atmosphere. The lighting
in the other two opening shots is high-key, high-key lighting
is often used by directors to create a happy, optimistic
atmosphere similar to the one that has been created here.
In the background of these shots these is a non-diegetic
sound track of a children's choir singing. We generally
associate children’s choirs with Christmas time which sets
the film up as a seasonal film set around Christmas time.

3. The titles that are featured in this trailer follow the same
design, white text and black background. This colour
scheme means the text/titles are easier for the audience
to read as they stand out more. Some of the words in the
titles being in bold such as “ULTIMATE” and “COMEDY”
suggests they hold more importance and meaning so the
film may be more comical than romantic.
Following the titles the camera cuts to a two shot of a couple in the car, the
lighting in this shot is dark and low-key compared to the shots before the titles.
This possibly suggest there may have been a sad turn in the storyline of these
characters. The lighting change on the other hand could be viewed as showing a
change in timing. After this shot the camera cuts to another two shot of a couple
in the car that looks almost identical. Like in the previous shot the couple are
looking at one another, the lighting used has created shadows on the characters
faces which indicates they may be hiding something. Interestingly in both of these
shots the female characters are wearing all red outfits. The colour red has
connotations of passion and love which fits in with the films genre. The women
wearing the colour red may suggest they are deeply in love, red is also a colour
used to show power so the women might be being portrayed as powerful and
strong rather than the stereotypical damsel in distress. The shots being almost
identical suggests these characters have very similar storylines. A sound bridge is
also used over these shots which further suggests they are linked.

4. The trailer features a sequence of shots of individual
characters in the film. The shots of individual characters
are either close ups or mid-close ups, these shots show the
facial expressions and emotions of the characters giving
the audience an insight into each of the characters. This
sequence of mid-shots and close ups are fast pace and in
timing with the non diegetic upbeat trumpet soundtrack
playing across the shots. The use of a sound bridge
suggests that all of these characters are linked in someway.
The lighting in these shots is generally high-key and bright
which further adds to the happy upbeat atmosphere of the
trailer. Interestingly for a film set at Christmas time they
haven’t used a Christmas colour scheme like green, gold
and red.
These titles suggests this film is trying to go
against stereotypical romcoms as by
featuring central male characters they are
trying to reach a male audience too. The use
of red connotes love and romance which fits
in with the films genre and storylines.

5. The colour white is
occurs many times
in the trailer, in the
background and in
the clothing the
characters are
wearing. White is a
light, bright colour
that has
connotations of
purity, safety and
goodness. The
colour reoccurring
adds to the uplifting
atmosphere that is
created throughout
the trailer.
In this montage of shots we see snippets of the
“19 people” that feature in the film. The
montage uses a variety of shots such as close up
and mid shots. All of the lighting used is high key
and vibrant translating a happy atmosphere to
the audience. One of the clips features a long
shot of a man stood outside of no.10 Downing
Street, this iconography tells the audience were
the film is set as it is a very well known place in
London.