Joe ! Boyd!
How is colour used to communicate stories and ideas in film? (WIP)!
Why? • I wanted to take the opportunity to do something that informed my practice, I have become interested in colour and I want to know how it can be used as a tool for communication.! • I want a focused line of inquiry through a subject I am interested in. ! • Film has influenced and inspired me as an illustrator from the start so it will be interesting to use it as a lens for my writing. !
Colour Theory
Colour Psychology
Wes Anderson / Stanley Kubrick They are very effective in using colour to add context to their films and drive the narrative BUT they do it to completely opposite effects even when using similar colour schemes. !
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Wes Anderson • His filmʼs colour schemes are made up of bright playful colours.! • Anderson uses these scheme to remove heavy emotions from his films giving them their trademark charm.! • His films all carry dark themes such as loss but the vivid colours cushion the impact on the viewer.! • This is illustrated in the final train scene in The Grand Budapest Hotel which switches to black and white.!
Stanley Kubrick • Uses colour to add the shock factor to films.! • Kubrick loved to use red, especially to enhance scenes featuring fear, violence or alarm.! • He also uses colour to support the narrative of his films. For example in The Shining the amount of red in film increases as the tension and fear grows until the end when it disappears.!
Prac tical • Publication based.! • Little White Lies magazine has been a huge influence on me to date, something based on their style of publishing could be interesting. (The Colour Issue – Comparing and contrasting the colourful work of Anderson and Kubrick?)! • Profiles of the directors ect.! • Kubrickʼs work in Anderson colours and vice versa to illustrate the importance of colour in conveying the atmosphere of their films.!
Outcomes What I am hoping to take away from this ! module.! • An understanding of colour theory and psychology as well as how master film makers have harnessed colour as a tool to tell stories.! • Learning and practice of how I can apply these skills to illustration and my own practice.! • I want to have produced a body of practical work that works with my written research to produce an interesting, valuable final product. !