Alex Hall Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I will be shooting a short film in black in white this spring. This will be my first time lighting for black and white. Can anyone recommend any films that have helped them in the past when lighting for black and white. Also any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Holland Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 When you say "film" do mean stock type or movies that have shot in B+W ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Dubrovskiy Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 La Haine Schilder's list 13 Tzameti 8 1/2 Eros (Steven Soderbergh's part) Coffee and Cigarettes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Hall Posted January 23, 2008 Author Share Posted January 23, 2008 When you say "film" do mean stock type or movies that have shot in B+W ? Movies that have been shot in black and white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Williamson Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 "Down By Law" shot by Robbie Mueller "8 1/2" shot by Gianni Di Venanzo "Touch of Evil" shot by Russell Metty "Only Angels Have Wings" shot Joseph Walker "Shanghai Express" shot by Lee Garmes "7th Victim" shot by Nic Musaraca "Broadway Danny Rose" shot by Gordon Willis "Vivre Sa Vie" shot by Raoul Coutard "Long Voyage Home" shot by Gregg Toland "Citizen Kane" shot by Gregg Toland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Williamson Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 And some chat threads that may prove useful posted by Jayson Crothers about his last feature "The Naked Eye": http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=26327 http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=26872 http://www.cinematography.com/forum2004/in...showtopic=26996 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 23, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 23, 2008 "Down By Law" shot by Robbie Mueller"8 1/2" shot by Gianni Di Venanzo "Touch of Evil" shot by Russell Metty "Only Angels Have Wings" shot Joseph Walker "Shanghai Express" shot by Lee Garmes "7th Victim" shot by Nic Musaraca "Broadway Danny Rose" shot by Gordon Willis "Vivre Sa Vie" shot by Raoul Coutard "Long Voyage Home" shot by Gregg Toland "Citizen Kane" shot by Gregg Toland I would add to that excellent list: Night of the Hunter (Stanley Cortez) The Fugitive (Gabriel Figueroa) Out of the Past (Nic Musaraca) How Green Was My Valley (Arthur Miller) Yojimbo (Kazuo Miyagawa) Elephant Man (Freddie Francis) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Malone Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I think "The Man Who Wasn't There" shot by Roger Deakins is stunningly beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Dan Goulder Posted January 23, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 23, 2008 I think "The Man Who Wasn't There" shot by Roger Deakins is stunningly beautiful. That was shot on color stock, and printed in black and white. For a more recent film shot in black and white (some parts), I'd recommend Memento. It's got some of the sharpest black and white cinematography I've ever seen. In fact, if anyone happens to know how the B&W scenes were lit, and especially what T-stops were used, please post the info. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Malone Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 That was shot on color stock, and printed in black and white. This is true. Still looks amazing though. I heard there are a couple bootleg copies of the film floating around that are in color. I would love to get my hands on those to see what they look like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Hall Posted January 24, 2008 Author Share Posted January 24, 2008 Thanks alot! I'm off to try to find copies of all these films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Jayson Crothers Posted January 25, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 25, 2008 Mike beat me to it, but take a look at some of my past postings for my thoughts on shooting B&W. You can find info about "Memento" in both AC (April 2001) and ICG (March 2001); in summary: 5222 with a 1/2 stop push (a few years ago he also mentioned that he did a 1/2 stop push on "Batman Begins"), E-Series Anamorphics, T4, no filtration, all Tungsten Units, printed to color stock (printing B&W to color stock introduces a VERY subtle red tint - you really don't see it unless you're looking for it or unless you compare the print to one that's actually done on B&W). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Jayson Crothers Posted January 25, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 25, 2008 You should also take a look at "L'Avventura" by Michelangelo Antonioni. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Baker Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 IMHO, some really beautiful black and white films: "Damnation" Bela Tarr "Andrei Rublev" Andrei Tarkovsky "I Fidanzati" Ermanno Olmi "Soy Cuba" Mikhail Kalatozov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Dubrovskiy Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Tarkovski's "Stalker" most certainly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Holland Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 " Casablanca " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Allen Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 "The Big Heat" "Laura" "The Big Combo" "Sunset Blvd." "Oliver Twist" (1948) "The Naked City" Pretty much any of the 40-50's film noir movies are excelent in B&W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiarash Sadigh Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I'm surprised that there is not a single recommendation for Sven Nykvist's magnificient body of B&W work... does Persona ring a bell?? for other B&W works of master Nykvist chekout: -The Virgin Srping -Hour of the Wolf -Shame -Winterlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Allen Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I forgot to mention Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca", shot by George Barnes, is another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 26, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 26, 2008 I forgot to mention Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca", shot by George Barnes, is another one. Also "Jane Eyre", shot by George Barnes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Rosenbloom Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Jesus, no one's mentioned "Raging Bull." Also "Suture," "La Vie De Bohemme," "Swoon," (I'm trying for recent ones.) "Manhattan," "Broadway Danny Rose," "Zelig," "Good Night and Good Luck," (shot on color ...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 26, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 26, 2008 (I'm trying for recent ones.) Why? Either it's great b&w or it isn't, regardless of how old the movie is... In some ways, it can't help but get "modernized" even when you attempt to emulate an old movie, unless you go from extreme cliches. Those are all great choices by the way. I like the widescreen b&w movies starting in the 1960's with Kurosawa (High & Low, The Bad Sleep Well) that a movie like "Suture" was inspired by. There's also "Paper Moon" and "The Last Picture Show". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavern Templeton Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 Viridiana, Sansho the Bailiff, Maltese Falcon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Rosenbloom Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 I tried for recent only because the topic starter sounds young. But Ok: Night of The Hunter, Magnificent Ambersons, Citizen Kane, Man of Aran, Mad Love, Sweet Smell of Success ... They made a lot of movies back in the B&W day. I haven't shot any B&W, but I recall hearing the one trick is to really work your edge lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 26, 2008 Premium Member Share Posted January 26, 2008 It's all about creating tonal separation and enhancing three-dimensionality, and then directing the eye to what's important. Framing bright against dark, or vice-versa, is one way of providing separation. Backlights and edge-lights (again, against a darker background) is another way. B&W loves contrast so generally you are looking for ways to avoid a muddy grey look (unless that is the look you want.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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