Scene Deconstruction 2

COMM 570: Film and Video Production II Instructor: Jonathan Adelman

MFA Film and Electronic Media

Assignment 2:

Scene Deconstruction for Casablanca

Presented By: Priya Krishna February 17, 2008

Table of Contents 1.0

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................1

2.0

CASABLANCA LIGHTING...............................................................................................................1

3.0

SET-UP COMPARISON......................................................................................................................1

4.0

LESSONS LEARNED..........................................................................................................................2

LESSONS LEARNED

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Introduction The purpose of this document is to view and compare lighting setups for the ‘Isla

Retuns’ scene from the film Casablanca to our recreation lighting setup from the same scene. This document will also cover what could have been done differently, if we were to reshoot this scene. 20

Casablanca Lighting Casablanca used expressionistic/film noir lighting. Most of the setups could be

achieved with the understanding of basic three point lighting. Isla was mostly shot from her left side. The gaffer used a softening filter to make her shine and sparkle. Ilsa receives a fill light that removes the shadows on her face, making her skin appear perfectly smooth. The back light provides a halo effect, reinforcing her portrayal as an innocent, sympathetic woman. Although Ilsa has betrayed Rick, her portrayal as a compassionate, almost angelic figure complicates the audience's interpretation of her character. In contrast, bars of shadow across Rick’s face were used throughout the film. This lighting creates a fatigued image of the older night club owner. His key light casts shadows which emphasize the wrinkles on his face. 30

Set-up Comparison The original film did not use cookies for the background. The windows at Rick’s

bar were larger on set. To recreate that amount of light, we used lights pointing to the walls going through cookies. In order to get Rick’s close-ups we needed to rearrange furniture so that we would not see parts of the studio in the shot. We needed to fake a wall where there was not one. Pa ge 1

This was rigged in a short amount of time, which caused it to look unnatural. For example there was no plant or bi-fold wood piece behind Rick in the master shots, but the new arrangement of furniture had a plant in front of the piano and a bi-fold wood piece behind the piano. In order to achieve the shine and sparkle in Ilsa, we light her from behind with a stonger light than one would normally use as a back light. We lit her in every position she maintained in her scene including when she walks in, when she stands by the table, and when she sits down. We achieved the shadow on Rick’s face by blocking the light coming to his face with a silk. This allowed us to keep Rick in the dark while Isla shined and sparkled. Since the original film was on location the doors and the window had natural light coming in. We had to rig this look in the studio to make lighting looking like natural light. 40

Lessons Learned If I had to shoot the scene again, I would shoot in on location instead of a studio.

This would have prevented continuity issues that surround rigging a studio. An on location shoot would have also prevented the slow setup of the lights on the ceiling grid. After the floor lights were setup, only one to two people at a time could set up the lights on the ceiling grid. Shooting on location would also allow us to use sunlight, instead of all artificial light. If shooting in the studio again, I would also like two ladders to setup the lights on the ceiling grid to get things done quicker.

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Casablanca (Original Setup)

Moving Spot Light

Sun Light

Plant Light Ilsa Walk-in Front Light

Plant Light

Key Light Ilsa Back Light Ilsa

Fill Light Ilsa

Piano Light Moving Spot Light

Back Light Rick

Key

Key Light Rick Grid Light

C

C

Floor Light

Camera

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Casablanca (Class Set-up 1)

Moving Spot Light

Ilsa Walk-in Back Light Window Light

Light Through Cookie on Wall

Light Through Cookie on Wall Plant Light Ilsa Walk-in Front Light

Plant Light

Key Light Ilsa Back Light Ilsa

Moving Spot Light

Fill Light Ilsa

Piano Light Back Light Rick

Key

Key Light Rick Grid Light

C

C

Floor Light

Camera

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Casablanca (Class Set-up 2)

Moving Spot Light

Ilsa Walk-in Back Light Window Light

Plant Light

C

Plant Light Ilsa Walk-in Front Light

Key Grid Light

C

Floor Light

Camera

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Casablanca (Class Set-up 3)

Window Light

Plant Light

C

Key Light Ilsa

Back Light Ilsa Pia no

Lig

ht

Ba ck Lig ht R

Fill Light Ilsa

ick

Key

Key Light Rick Grid Light

Floor Light

C

Moving Spot Light

Camera

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