Colour reaction on B&W

[Anais Lorie]

Hey All,

 

I'm shooting a B&W film soon, 35mm.

Does anyone know how different colours look in B&W?

Is there a website that compares different colours?

 

Thanks!

[peterasimmons]

I guess you'll be shooting colour then de-saturating at the DI stage. Different stocks will render each colour slightly differently, resulting in slightly different tones once converted to B and W. I think the only way to predict would be to shoot some tests.

[Frank Gollner]

I hope I am not to late with this suggestion, but if you can access back issues of American Cinematographer, there is an interview with Roger Deakins who was the DP on the Coen Brothers "The Man Who Wasn't There" He shot the film in colour, as insurance against the Studio backing out of the idea of releasing it in cinemas in B&W, then converted to Black and White in post. The article provides some interesting insights, both pro's and cons to this approach.