Using colors in film is a great tool for storytelling, because it allows the filmmaker to portray messages through visual elements as opposed to just telling the audience information outright. It also allows the audience to piece together the story themselves instead of feeling like everything is being spoon-fed to them.
Colors can be used in many formats to portray different elements. There are so many that I can only cover a few in one article. However, I will link the part-two with the rest of the elements of color [HERE].
In this article, we will explore how colors impact films by examining the emotional impact, symbolic meaning, and their role in the narrative structure.
Emotional Impact
Colors always have a direct influence on emotions and will even impact how you perceive certain scenes in a film or tv show. You even frequently see this tool being used in music videos, as they don’t get the chance for much storytelling. This response is often subconscious in viewers, but important nonetheless.
Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow will evoke feelings of warmth, excitement, or even danger, depending on how they are being utilized. These colors elevate the intensity of a scene, usually heightening the feelings of anger or love in the characters.
Alternatively, cool colors like blue, green, and purple are associated with feelings of calmness, serenity, or sadness. A scene that is completely blue might convey the characters’ feelings of isolation and loneliness, creating a sense of reflection among the audience. Through carefully selecting the color palettes for a film, the director is able to enhance the emotional depth and take the viewers on an emotional journey with the characters.
Symbolism
Colors can also be used symbolically to reinforce a film’s themes and messages. Filmmakers will use colors to add another layer or meaning to enhance the storytelling. A great example, for many cultures, is how white is used to symbolize purity or innocence, while conversely black symbolizes death and mystery. These two colors are often used to convey visual cues about a character’s moral ambiguity or to show the presence of danger.
In the film Schindler’s List, director Steven Spielberg uses the color red symbolically. The film is predominantly shot in black and white, but the red coat of a young girl stands out starkly, symbolizing innocence amidst the horror of the Holocaust and the loss of innocence in times of atrocity. This poignant use of color not only highlights a critical theme but also creates a lasting emotional impact
Narrative Structure
Lastly, color can also play a crucial role in the narrative structure of a film by differentiating time, space, and character perspectives. By altering the color palettes of certain scenes, filmmakers can signify shifts in the storyline. For example, a flashback scene might have more muted colors or sometimes even be in black and white, while the main story is in brighter colors. This creates a vast visual difference between two time periods, so the audience understands when we are seeing events from the past as opposed to present time in the story.
One of my absolute favorite examples of this usage of color to signify past and present scenes is in Christopher Nolan’s Memento; color is used to separate the film’s dual narratives. The color sequences represent the story’s chronological progression, while black and white scenes depict events in reverse order. This distinctive use of color helps the audience navigate the intricate plot, emphasizing the protagonist’s disoriented mental state and creating a unique storytelling experience. Although complicated, I recommend watching this movie a few times before you really see the pattern, in classic Christopher Nolan style.
In conclusion, color is a very useful tool for storytelling and can be used in so many different ways. The art of visual storytelling is complex, but can ultimately be what takes a story to the next level. Through thoughtful color choices, filmmakers can deepen the emotional impact of their stories, reinforce themes, and guide audiences through complex plots. As a powerful visual tool, color remains an essential element in the art of filmmaking, shaping how stories are told and experienced.
