Lighting Test

We decided to test the lighting in our location before going and filming to give us some idea what lighting we are going to use. The black curtains which block the natural light from outside, will not be present when we start the filming- therefore, we chose to test the lighting in the parts of the shop (and our script) which would realistically remain similarly lit when we actually start filming. The only place we decided might be realistically lit is around the counter/till. 

 

Our opening takes place during the daytime, so we decided it may be best for the lighting in our film to be kept mainly as high key lighting. This leads the opening to look realistic, and the fact that it looks like it took place during day time (it does) may add to the tension of the scene, as it may seem unconventional for an intense and possibly frightening scene to have taken place in a bright setting, much like the"'Heeeeere's Johnny!" scene from "The Shining". 

However, when the hitman approaches the till/counter, we decided it would be best to utilize the top lighting of the shop, from above the till, in order to exaggerate certain features on the hitman's face and make them stand out - which creates a more sinister character conventional to our genre. 

Another thing that we decided to do was to leave off many of the lights that the shop usually has turned on, and instead opt to turn on only the lights that were around 4k kelvin. With the curtains open for our actual film to allow in natural sunlight (which would be around the warmth that the lights we leave on are at), this creates a colder and more intense atmosphere than warmer lighting / lower kelvin would create.

The colder tone of lighting also emphasizes the cold and inhumane nature of the hitman - as it makes him look paler and this leads to him becoming distanced from the audience, insuring that they do not empathize with him.

It also makes the opening sequence seem eery and as if something bad is about to happen.