Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key) and assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.
My blog was on the movie "We Bought a Zoo". I believe the lighting used throughout the movie was high-key and low-key. This is a very fun, yet emotional movie. At the exciting times of the movie, the light is bright, bringing out the excitement of all the characters. There are also some rough patches the characters go through, in which the low key lighting works well identifying the mood of the characters. The lighting also conveys how the animals feel. In the beginning of the movie, the animals are as lively or vibrant as they should be. By the end of the movie, the are more lively and very vibrant in their demeanor. The lighting portrays this very well
What are the benefits of the style of lighting used?
The benefits of this type of lighting gives the overall feeling of being in the movie. Life is never always bright or always dull. Each day, each moment brings all types of lighting in our lives.
How did this technique contribute to the theme?
In "We bought a Zoo", the scene where Benjamin and Rosie walk out to the zoo for the first time, the lighting is very bright in contrast with the characters. Or at the end the movie, when the zoo celebrates re-opening, by having a grand opening. It's exciting, it's new and yet scary, all mixed into one. In the scene that Benjamin and Dylan are having an argument in the house about Dylan not feeling wanted or loved, the lighting is darker, again reflecting the characters. Their mood then, is not bright and cheerful, but dark, sad and angry. As when, the tiger is sick, the cast of shadows and darkness brings out the sadness of the scene. Throughout the movie, there are many of times, that Benjamin starts to reminisce about his deceased wife, and again the lighting captures those moments precisely. Not to bright, unless at the moment of the good memory coming on the screen, but when Benjamin is just sad and missing her, the lighting darkens a bit, as does his mood.
How was the lighting technique suited to the genre of the film? For example, documentary films tend to rely on natural light as a way of creating an overall tone of authenticity.
The genre of this film is “Family” with a sub-genre of Drama. The lighting for this type of genre is perfect, high and low key. With a family/drama movie, there are all kinds of emotions that run through the movie. There are happy, exciting, and fun scenes, as well as sad and angry scenes.
Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.
In the scenes that involved the animals interacting with the characters, works well with high-key lighting. I think if it were low-key at those moments, it would take away from the excitement of the scene. On the flip side, if during the scene where dad and son have an argument, or when the tiger is very sick, I would think the audience wouldn’t take those scenes seriously if at that moment there as high-key lighting.
References:
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. This text is a Constellation™ course digital materials (CDM) title.
“We Bought a Zoo” Trailer (2011, November 11). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBZCslP9_AE
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