Flim Noir Research

Film Noir: a type of crime film featuring cynical malevolent characters in a sleazy setting and an ominous atmosphere that is conveyed by shadowy photography and foreboding background music.

The literal translation of 'Film Noir' is 'black film' which means that most of the movies were in black and white with very distinctive lighting being used.

Originating out of Europe after WWII, the 1940s and 50s saw the rise and huge success of the film noir genre on the silver screen. The look is still popular today, in such films as Black Swan, Drive and Sin City (each having a Neo-Noir style). 
What exactly is the film noir look?
Using low-key lighting as well as emphasizing shadows and harsh lighting, the film noir look captured the dark side of American life: urban crime, mobsters and thieves. To light in a film noir style, there are three basic things to remember:
  • To get hard crisp shadows, use a small intense light. (Fresnels, lekos, reflector spots)
  • Emphasize the difference between high and low-key lighting (lots of fill, high-key lighting)
  • Use at least 500 watt lights to get solid crisp blacks and stark whites (eliminate grays)
There are a number of different lighting setups to achieve your film noir look:
venetian blinds

The venetian blinds setup is a famous and well used trick for many films. To achieve this effect place a 1K (any hard, intense light) through a window with the venetian blinds tilted slightly. This can be a great contrasting effect adding detail to your shot.
Fog FilmNoir

A foggy background can have add great effect to a silhouetted figure, especially when lit from the back. As the fog illuminates, it also simulates diffusion and casts an eerie glow as seen below from The Big Combo.
Wall shadows


Shadowy figures are a big part of the film noir look and a well used technique even in modern times. Again, using intense lighting (1 or 2K), set up a series of lights that will be out of frame and slightly behind the actor so that the shadow is projected onto the wall behind.


 Pushover 1954


 How does this fit the film noir genre?

 This film fits into the category because it has used a variation of different lighting methods that have a quite dramatic effect. The use of high-key lighting gives the scene a more realistic appeal  but also it helps soften shadows that allows each aspect to be visible. The use of costumes is significant in this scene because within 'Film Noir' many male actors wear a hat that creates shadows and covers the face producing a mysterious persona as the face is not quite visible. The female character is seen to be wearing a fur coat and expensive jewellery which is enhanced by the use of top lighting as it makes her look glamorous. 

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