I found it helped me to stay interested in what was going to take place and how each scene could possibly play out. Using the variations between high and low key lighting throughout this film enhances a viewers interest in each scene.
The purpose of the switch is expected to allow a viewer to feel the intensity or seriousness of the conversation taking place. All the lighting for that scene was brighter and more focused on the all over picture, but the cemetery scene seemed to be much dimmer and the only lighting was focused on the actors faces as they spoke to one another in a more serious and adult like level. One example of this is the scene when Jake and Melanie are seen in “coon dog cemetery” The scene had just cut from a previous one where they had a attended a hometown party in the street and people were dancing, laughing, and having a good time. This shift is intended to help the viewer see how the mood of the movie has made a shift. (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011).Īs more dramatic, sad, or even serious scenes take place there is a slow yet distinct shift over to a more low key lighting. This is common when it comes to more happy or upbeat scenes where the mood is intended to be easy going and common for comedies and the like. In each fun filled and humorous scene you will notice varying degrees of high key lighting intended to brighten up the picture and make the viewer feel more pleasant about the particular event taking place. As these types of transitions occur, I notice a distinct difference in the way the lighting is set for the picture. This film is intended to be a romantic comedy, but throughout the film there are scenes where the story shifts slightly from a comic love story filled with humor, to a more serious almost drama like performance.
In the movie Sweet Home Alabama, I noticed varying combinations of lighting throughout the film. Cast : Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, Josh Lucas, Candice Bergen