Lighting in Cinema

3 credits · Undergraduate

Have you ever watched a movie and felt particularly moved by its dialogue, characters, and themes? Most of us can probably name a few! But films also convey their stories using design languages that aren't communicated with words. Visual storytelling is a crucial component in setting a tone and guiding an audience deeper into a story. Lighting, color, and composition are essential to creating environments, mood, and emotional arcs. In this class, we'll take a curated journey through the history of film. As we go, we'll unpack the ways in which light and color add to the thematic resonance and tonal impact of narrative storytelling.