Film Noir Chiaroscuro

Examples of Chiaroscuro in Film Noir

Chiaroscuro is an Italian term and translates to "Light-Dark" and dates back to renaissance art. This is the type of lighting used in Film Noir and it uses a single light source to create high contrast and crisp shadows. This type of lighting is used to create the shadows featured heavily throughout Film Noir films and it is most likely to be seen when a character is walking down a dark sidewalk or alley. This could also be called low key lighting which means that you have two high contrast of bright and dark in one scene to create shadows and contrasts etc. This is also used to emphasise a specific character or prop. For example, when they  want you to look at someone or something ratehr than another they use lighting. They will use the light to "catch" the edge of the private detectives hat or the muzzle of his gun. This can be used to give the audience certain feelings. For example, by having the light "catch" the edge of the detectives hat you are creating an enigmatic feeling abotu him whereas if you were to make the light "catch" his gun it would create the feeling of suspense as you would assume violence or action is about to occur.

The Ultimate Film Noir Collection Cover, Spine and Back Analysis

 

 Film Noir DVD covers are very similar and generic across most film noir films. They have the same codes and conventions they all use to specify the film as Film Noir. These conventions are:

-  A Femme Fatale (A  seductive and deadly woman)

-A private detective

- Guns and Cigarettes

-A simple problem that turns complex

-Dark Sidewalks

These are also featured heavily throughout the film. These conventions are typicalof the Film Noir sub-genre and they are used to specify the genre of the film as a thriller/ Film Noir.

Cover:

One of the main features of this DVD cover is the man holding the gun. By having smoke emitting from the end of the gun it suggests it has just been shot therefore suggesting violence and action. This is done to make the film seem exciting and action packed.  The cover also features two women who will be in the film as Femme Fatals and are used to reinforce the typical conventions of Film Noir. The cover, spine and back are very dark with only a small hint of colour. This is typical of Film Noir as it is also filmed/ editied this way.

Spine:

The spine of the cover is very plain and only features the name of the DVD, "The Ultimate Film Noir Collection". This may reflect the look of the film by only using black and white.

Back:

The back consists of propaganda posters that have been changed and manipulated to fit together to create the back. This may have been used to reflect the time period of film noir. It also gives a brief description of each film in the collection and it's title, running time.

Film Noir Thriller Trailers

Below are some examples of Film Noir Thriller trailers that show the conventions of Film Noir and what they are:

Pulp Fiction Trailer Can be found Here

Kiss Me Deadly Trailer Can be found Here

The Blue Dahlia Trailer Can be found Here

Pre-Production Treatment

Title: Crimson

Brief Synopsis of my production: I will produce 2 promotional posters, a DVD cover/ back and spine

Genre:
-Thriller
-Subgenre ( Film Noir)

Click HereTo Learn More On The Film Noir Genre

Conventions of the genre:

Film noir conventions are Femme Fatals (deceiving women in provocative poses), private detectives, guns, cigarettes and a simple problem that turns complex. Other conventions include Chiaroscuro ( Light-Dark) lighting.


Target Demographic:

My target demographic is males aged 18+. This is because conventionally men aged 18+ are more interested in Film Noir films due to the women in provocative poses and the action/ drama that the private detectives bring. The ethnicity, social class and geographic location of my target demographic doesn't apply.

Brief Overveiw of the narrative:

-Crimson ( The deceitful women)
-Charlie ( The private detective)
-Events ( A simple problem eg crime that turns complex)


Other relevant information:

Props:
-Guns
-Cigarettes

Actors:

-Middle Aged women playing a deceitful women
-Middle Aged man playing a private detective

Location:

-Sub-urban area
-Bars
-Dark Walkway/ Alley

Inception Film Poster Analysis

Leanordo DiCaprio is in bold letters across the top of the poster. This is a huge selling point as he is a hugely successful actor. The floods surrounding Leonardo suggests apocalypse and the end of the world ( Disaster) "From the Director Of The Dark Knight" By saying this they are suggesting that because The Dark Knight was a successful film this one will be too. Also, if you liked the dark knight you will like this too. Bright red inception text stands out from the blues of the flood. The man in the poster is looking away from us suggesting he is away from the world and the film is more about what's around him rather than him himself. By having a bright light/ glow in the background of the poster behind Leonardo it sggests an end to his problems whether good or bad.

The Dark Knight Film Poster Analysis

The top of the poster features the names of the actors and acctresses in the film. This is a selling point due to the fact they are mainly all A-Lost actors. The background of th poster consists of sparks flying everywhere and buildings exploding. This gives the connotations of danger, trouble, crime and violence. This sets the tone for the rest of the film. The dark fade on the outside makes us focus on the image of the joker and the destruction surrounding him. The jokers pose is away from the action and there is no danger, This suggests he is the creator of it. The joker is staring right at you which makes it more intense like you are a part of the film. There is a blow glow on the outside of the batman logo which suggests the logo is a sign of importance. Also, the colour blue gives the connotations of calmness and suggests a fight between Batman and the Joker.

Resevoir Dogs Film PosterAnalysis

The poster is mainly black and white with the exception of the large, deep red blood splatters acroos the top and bottom. This instantly draws our attention and suggests the film will include pain and violence. Teh colour red gives the connotations of danger, pain and blood. All the men in the poster are wearing suits which could suggest they are proffesionals. The title is "Resevoir Dogs" which links with the motto, " Every Dog Has His Day". The word dog gives the connotation of an animal. An animal that is below humans due to the behaviour. This could be linked to the men seen in the image as they are seen and thought of as dogs due to their behaviour. The poster is quite plain however it makes us focus on the two main aspects of the film. The men and blood/pain.

Pulp Fiction/ Film Noir Analysis

Pulp Fiction: The banner of the poster is a deep red which gives the connotation of blood and danger. The banner also features the text, "Winner-Best Picture-1994 Cannes Film Festival" by saying the film has won awards it suggests the film is amazing even before you have watched it therefore making you more likely to watch it. The film also has a worn, tattered effect which could mean the film is set in the past rather than in the future. The film is directed by Quentin Tarantino a respected film director therefore this is a sellign point. This is because if an audience like a film directed by Quentin then they are more likely to see anaother one by him. The poster features a women in a provacative, sexual pose a gun which suggests violence and crime and cigerettes whuch are all conventions of a Film Noir film. The film noir sub-genre dated from the early 1940's to the late 1950's. It is associated with low key black and white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist Cinematography. The film posters and the fims themselves usually feature women in provacative poses with guns, cigerettes and private detectives. Film Noir simply means Black Film.

Aliens Film Poster Analysis

The poster is very plain which makes us focus on the text "Aliens" and the captions below. The caption "This time it's war" suggests violence and war. "Aliens" is in a sc-fi style font which further reinforces the genre as a sci-fi thriller. The "I" in the Aliens text almost ooks like a snake eye with a blue glow behind. This reinforces the sci-fi genre again with the futuristic feel of the glow. By having the poster plain except for the text it gives the connotation that their are only aliens there and that no one is there to help. Due to the fact the poster doesn't featre any images of the aliens it makes us create an image of them in our head and there is also a sense of enigma about them. The poster doesn't have any names of the actors or actresses therefore it suggests it is more about the plot behind the film rather than the actors in it. The caption, "There are some places in the universe you don't go alone" adds suspense and has an enigmatic feeling behind it.