The Full Story
Aligned
A 10 minute fiction short film with myself as director of photogtaphy. Read on to find out more about the research and prep that went into designing the cinematography of this short film.
The Vision
To gain inspiration for this film I first looked at You because of its similar themes:
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There are a lot of reflections used in You, creating a sense of hidden motive and the feeling of being watched.
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There is a warm colour palette to begin with but with growing sinister undertones.
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The subject is often framed with objects in the foreground to hide his face and his true intentions
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There are harsh shadows on his face but soft lighting on hers.
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I also looked at Marriage Story which studies the intricacies of relationships:
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Often each character is framed in front of the other, blurred in the foreground. Shallow depth of field.
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Sense of over crowding of the frame, creating the feeling of obsession with each other.
The Vision
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I also looked at Mr Robot & Nightcrawler
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In Nightcrawler Dan is framed in unnatural, symmetrical compositions, showing there is something not right about his behaviour.
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When it’s revealed what Dan is doing we switch from natural lighting to harsh and dramatic. There is blue light on his face, weird shaped lighting of his eyes, both make him appear evil.
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Mr Robot also uses unnatural framing to create this sense of unease and suspense.
The Vision
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Overall I wanted the film to start off with warm and inviting lighting.
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But as we learn more about Dan’s intentions it becomes sinister and colder shifting to a harsher blue light.
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I wanted to frame Dan in low angles and unnatural compositions. I also wanted to use reflections to mirror his multiple identities.
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There are objects blurred in the foreground mimicking the feeling of being watched.
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In general there is a soft light on Lucy and harsh lighting on Dan.
Floor Plans
