Three Point Lighting

Three point lighting is a standard lighting technique. The aim of three point lighting is to create the illusion of the 3D subject in a 2D image. Using three point lighting creates the dimension in several ways all depending on how it is set up.




Three Points of Light:

• Key Light - the main light
• Fill Light - fills the shadows created by the key light, also prevents high contrast
• Back Light - separates the subject from the background

Freud

Freud believed that "dreams are the royal road to the unconscious" and that they contained important clues into the human psyche. Much of his initial research methods involved questioning his patients on their dream experiences and using their descriptions as a means of uncovering the 'true' motivations and perceptions on the world.

"Film operates on much the same principle...film speaks directly to the unconscious, the language of dreams is one that is not an abstract form of communication such as narrative, but is one that is filled with images they carry hidden meanings on a latent level." (Kluge, 1999)

The nature that is film can be, to a degree, deconstructed in order to unveil a universal understanding of our thoughts and behaviours that through identification, contributes towards our enjoyment of the film as it acts as a release mechanism of these id  induced impulses.

Freudian Analysis

The id -  Tyler Durden (unconscious desires/the 'repressed' - set free without conscience)

The Ego - The 'narrator' (the conscious/IKEA lifestyle - comfortable)

The 'real' Tyler can be found between The id and The Ego (one half ego and one half id)

The Superego - initially: 'The Self-help groups'

                         then: 'Fight Club'

                         then: 'Project Mayhem'

The Superego will regulate 'pleasure', it will censor the id, but will also license it.

Freud explained his famous model of brain function in the 1927 publication The Ego and the id. Since then, the theory has been explained with reference to a horse and chariot.

• id: the most primitive drive, concerned only with fulfilling pleasure. Has sometimes been referred to as the irrational and emotional part of the mind. It is often regarded as being selfish, because it's concerned only with its own self-satisfaction. Babies and young children are often used as examples because they're usually driven by the pleasure and instant gratification principles. Key word: Want.

• Ego: based on the reality principle. The ego is capable of understanding that one's own desires may vary for people around, and is willing to make this consideration. The ego tries to meet the basic needs of the id but also takes into account the real world. The ego understands that actions have effects, whether positive or negative, and tried to balance out thinking before carrying out decisions/actions. Key word: Balance.

• Superego: Based on moral principles instilled by rearing and moral/ethical restraints placed upon by caregivers. The superego encompasses an individual's ideals, goals, and conscience as well as society's. The superego is concerned with what others will think, and stands in opposition to the id. The superego acts to perfect and civilise our behaviours. Key words: morals, compromise.

Conclusions:

Freudian analysis can explain who Tyler really is.

Tyler represents the narrators' inner desire or want.

The narrator is unaware of who Tyler is until he begins to reconnect with his place in society and regain conscious control.

The film explores the relationship between the 3 components of 'the self'.

High Key and Low Key Lighting

High Key Lighting

High key lighting is a technique used in both films and photography that creates a lot of light onto the subject. This helps reduce contrast and creates stronger meanings and if often used in shots with infants or the elderly. High key lighting can be achieved with either studio lights or natural lighting.The use of high key lighting can soften the look of shots.

This scene from Bruce Almighty demonstrates the use of high key lighting really well and shows how the use of the lighting technique can hint towards meaning as it is when Bruce meets God, thus using the light to shows God's spiritual meaning and presence.

Low Key Lighting

Low key lighting exaggerates the contours of an object by causing darkness in certain areas while the higher point are highlighted. In film, low key lighting is often used when the director wants to isolate a subject or suggest drama. It is a common convention of the horror genre but it doesn't always necessarily mean the shot will be scary or horrific, but could be used to make the audience feel uneasy or uncomfortable. 

This scene with Bane and Batman in The Dark Knight Rises shows how effective low key lighting can be and how it is used.

Lighting Set Ups

Studio Lighting Set-Ups

Butterfly Lighting



Butterfly lighting highlights the majority of the subjects face; it is seen a 'glamourous' and was popular in 1930s Hollywood. This set up is called the 'butterfly' because of the butterfly shape shadow that is cast under the subjects nose. This effect is created by the key light being positioned in a high angle above the subject.

Edge/Split Lighting

Edge lighting uses hard lighting to cast shadows over the subject's face to obscure it slightly. Edge lighting requires little light to highlight the subject as it creates distinct contrast between the light and shade because half of the subject is illuminated while the other half is shadowed.

Rembrandt Lighting

Rembrandt lighting takes more experimenting with the positions in order for the light to fall just right on the subjects face to execute the perfect example of Rembrandt lighting. Rembrandt lighting is easily recognised by the illuminated triangle under the subject's eye on the side of the face that is opposite to the light source.

New Wave Rough Cut and Evaluation

The final cut of my New Wave film is very rough and lacks in effects due to my absence of experience with Premiere Pro and all it's features. As I got further into editing I got used to the software and felt I was able to add music to my footage, and chose a song I thought fit the footage well and towards the end of the film I began to edit the footage to fit the music and or lyrics. 

The American New Wave was a big influence of mine, since I'd studied it as a genre, the use of natural lighting to give a sense of verisimilitude to my film, also the use of unaware extras for the same reason as the lighting; it adds to the almost documentary style of film. The use hand held camera and long depth of field follow the conventions of the New Wave genre, in that it looks natural and a part of daily life without any sense of being staged and scripted. Also the French New Wave influenced me slightly in the use of jump cuts and unpolished editing, this was useful to me as it allowed me to get used to the software but to make a short film that demonstrated characteristics of my influences. In my film there's a shot on an escalator which is overexposed and the definition of the coat is lost. Despite the shot being overexposed I decided to leave it in the final cut because it compliments the genre as the genre as a whole is about capturing the shot and life rather than focusing on the technical components to each shot.

There are a several shots and edits that I am very proud of throughout my film; one being at the point when Eleanor is walking and smoking and shows to peace sign to the camera and the same time that the song says 'piece' although it isn't the same definition it was unintentional editing that fits really well and, I believe, adds to the film positively. Also the shot when it looks as though Eleanor throws the camera to the side as the music changes. I thought it was the ideal place for that shot and I edited it to be followed by the flickering light that doesn't quite fit the beat of the music yet fits so well to the feel of the film; nothing quite fits together and makes no sense but that's what makes it work. 

Labels and Bins in Premiere

 While editing my new wave video I have labelled all my clips so that it was easier to find the clip I was looking for. I also separated the clips into bin, one for all the footage that was shot in Birmingham and another for all other clips shot elsewhere. 
Using label and bins made this whole editing process a lot easier because it kept the work space clean and tidy and easy to find what I was looking for. I will continue to do this with all editing projects throughout the rest of the course as it just made editing run smoother.