Colour has taken over the way we watch films, whether they’re lovely homemade or produced by the stars of Hollywood. We can thank the advancements of technology for that and, though tech has allowed us to lovingly transfer your 8mm film to DVD, in film production, it’s taken away something essential to our viewing experience: emotion.
Bringing Nostalgia to a Film
We’ve spoken about the nostalgia of films before but not about how the lighting creates this powerful emotion. In modern day films, monochrome is a technique used by directors to portray a memory or a past event. Memory over time, as we’ve mentioned before, has a tendency to lose some of its focus. The colour we used to remember fades into subtle greys, which is why using this technique to depict a past event is favourable in the film industry.
Watching a black and white film, however, has an amazing power to transport you back to a simpler time, away from your current affairs and into a realm of cowboys and Indians, of elegant ballroom gowns and chimney sweepers. It brings a dream-like quality to the film you’re watching you simply don’t get from today’s loud, HD colour.
The Effect Black and White Has on an Audience
If you’ve never watched a noir film, we strongly suggest you put it on your bucket list. Though it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the latest blockbuster and their glittering array of special effect, modern day films fail to leave a lasting impression.
This, we can’t help but feel, is because they lack the depth and shade black and white films offer to the story line. Black and white crime and horror films emphasise the darkness of a scene while romances play on the subtle greys of memory for a dream-like impression.
Black and White in Home Movies
When capturing your memories you may be tempted to remember everything in stunning colour, however, if you’re planning on turning your hand to artistic home filming, black and white is the way to go. Stunning and timeless, all you need is a steady hand and an eye for lighting to create a masterful monochrome home movie.
Once you’ve created your black and white masterpieces, it’s time to make sure you, your family and your friends can view it time and time again. We specialise in protecting your most cherished memories and your most artistic pieces of film making by transferring your cine to DVD. To find out more about how we can help you enhance your monochrome film, contact us on 0800 592433 today.
