This document discusses the importance of lighting in film, particularly in the horror genre. It explains that lighting is used to create mood, drama, and suspense and has been integral to the fear factor in horror films from early German impressionist films to more modern titles. Specific lighting techniques discussed include silhouette, uplighting, spotlighting, and shadow, which are used to reveal or conceal objects of horror and generate unease. The document also provides descriptions and examples of different lighting angles including back lighting, key and fill lighting, under-lighting, top lighting, and side lighting.

1. Lighting

2. Light is a fundamental part of any cinematic
experience as it helps to create mood, drama,
and suspense. lighting remains crucial to the
success of both black and white classics and
modern Technicolor blockbusters. Its greatest
impact, however, is in the horror genre. From the
earliest days of German impressionist films such as
Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari
(1919) and Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau’s Nosferatu
(1921) to Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) and Donahue,
Leonard and William’s Blair Witch Project (2002),
the light – or in many cases the lack of it – has
been integral to creating the fear factor. In horror
films light is commonly used to reveal or conceal
the object of horror by employing various lighting
techniques

3. Silhouette
the use of a bright
light source behind
the figure allows it
become a dark figure
void of any features
or expression of
mood. It is the
menacing posture of
figure with the
occasional use of
colour that creates
suspense.

4. Uplighting
the lighting of a
figure or face from
below creates
heavy shadowing to
the face especially
to the eyes, nose
and brow. Distorting
our perception of
human features
generates a feeling
of unease and
mistrust.

5. Spotlighting
spotlighting a figure,
especially from behind,
is similar to the use of
silhouette by limiting
recognisable features. It
is often the use of
shadows and the
figure’s posture that
creates a sense of
foreboding as you
realise that this is that
place you must enter –
and wherein the terror
lies.

6. Shadow
the use of
projected shadow
creeping along a
surface creates
tension and fear.
While you do not
see the figure
directly, the
distorted shadow
exaggerates its
features and feeds
the imagination

7. Angles

8. Back lighting
The main light source comes from behind the
character
It is used to create a silhouette. The character can
be made to look mysterious due to the effect of
the shadows. It can create a sense of impending
doom and is often used in horror movies.

10. Key and fill lighting
It is the main light source in a particular scene
It is usually directed onto the main character. Fill
lighting can be added to soften the effect of
shadows

12. Under-lighting
The main light source comes from below the
character.

14. Top lighting
The main light source comes from above the
character
It is used to remove shadows produced by the
key lighting. It can also create the illusion of a
bright, sunny day

16. Side lighting
The main light source comes from one side of the
screen
It is used to light one side of the character’s face
and produces shadows across the set, creating a
sense of mystery.

18. As my key role in the production of the film is to
assure that the production set is correctly set up, I
have taken up the role to assure that the lighting is
correctly used to produce an appropriate
atmosphere. I will mainly be using spotlighting, under
lighting and low key. I will also be using red gel
during the attack scene to give a sense of danger
and the idea of blood being shed and filling the
room