CINEMATIC LIGHTING

(from: Film 101: Understanding Film Lighting

by MasterClass @ masterclass.com)
 WHAT IS CINEMATIC LIGHTING?

Cinematic lighting is a film lighting technique that goes

beyond the standard three-point lighting setup to add drama,
depth, and atmosphere to the story. Cinematic lighting
utilizes lighting tricks like bouncing light, diffusing light, and
adjusting color temperatures.
 WHY IS LIGHTING IMPORTANT?

Lighting is a fundamental to film because it creates a visual

mood, atmosphere, and sense of meaning for the audience.
Whether it’s dressing a film set or blocking actors, every step of the
cinematic process affects the lighting setup, and vice-versa.
• Lighting tells the audience where to look. The lighting setup guides the eye to a specific
actor, prop, or part of a scene.

• Lighting reflects the psychology of characters. The amount, size, color, and harshness of
light surrounding a character can be adjusted to match their emotions.

• Lighting defines and supports the genre of the film. Lighting is the tool that conveys
mood most clearly. For example, one of the film genres most known for its distinct
lighting style is film noir, characterized by stark contrasts between light and dark,
dramatically patterned shadows, and unique framing and composition choices.