Lighting usually goes unnoticed or neglected when we view
films, or at least in my opinion I have never realized how much importance
lighting is within films. Lighting is a crucial component of a film’s visual
design and serves all different purposes. It sets the tone of specific scenes,
can surface emotions with the audience, and is able to easily manipulate the
audiences’ response to certain characters. One film that uses all three of the purposes
listed above is The Matrix directed
by Lana and Andy Wachowski. For those who are crazy enough to have not seen
this spectacular movie let me give you some insight. To start, the protagonist,
Neo, is contacted by a group of freedom fighters or enlightened individuals who
inform Neo that the reality he has come to understand is just a simulation
called the Matrix. The Matrix hides the truth from humanity and the freedom
fighters believe that Neo is “The One” who will be able to expose the truth and
overthrow the machines. The movie conveys Neo’s journey of overthrowing the
machines and accepting his role as “The One”. Yet, this movie would lose its
overall message and “badass” feel if the lighting were not utilized in the
manner it was. A prime example of the lighting techniques began with the
opening sequence of the movie. I shall break down the sequence to prove my
point.
The first scene opens on a group of policemen gathered in an
untidy, dark hallway. Their bright flashlights contrast with the discouraging
colors seen in the corridor. This contrast creates a certain tension and uneasiness. The
policemen close in on one of the room’s located in the hall. Once they kick in
the door the lighting changes. The room they enter would be pitch black if it
were not for the flashlights the cops carry in their hands. As explained in the
article, “The Matrix
a Review of Directing Techniques” the flashlights create silhouettes of the
cops which in contradiction of the clearly present Trinity makes the cops look
vulnerable or inferior to her. Just based on the directors’ use of lighting the
viewers get the feeling that Trinity is in control of the situation at hand.
The next scene picks up speed as Trinity is trying to
escape from the agents. Many lighting techniques are in play here as well. One
of the harder instances of lighting is the “side lit” technique used on
Trinity’s face. Below is a picture of Trinity with the side lit technique in
action. One can clearly see that half of Trinity’s face appears brighter than
the other side. I interpreted this as a way to symbolize Trinity’s double life,
her life in the Matrix and in the real world.
 |
| "Side Lit" |
Another lighting detail that
is continuous throughout the movie is the emphasis on the colors green and
blue. An article that expanded my view and thoughts on the significance of
color within The Matrix was “Why You
Truly Didn’t See The Matrix” which
broke down the usage and significance of the colors employed in the movie,
especially green.
These colors are prominent
in the movie to distinguish between the Matrix and the real world. In the
Matrix, there always seems to be an overlying green tint that the viewer sees,
yet when the characters transition back to the real world that green tint
disappears and a blue tint comes into affect. Blue can represent many things to
a person, but the directors made sure to use this color to portray the real
world as bleak, harsh, and unglamorous.
 |
| "Matrix Green Tint" |
 |
| "Real World BLue Tint" |
Without the use of lighting
and color in The Matrix the movie would lack meaning and character development.
The audience would less likely be able to follow or even have interest in the
plot line for lighting ties the sets and the scenes together.
Works Cited
Barsam, Richard, and Dave
Monahan. Looking at Movies. 4th ed.
New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.
Kennedy, Matt. "The
Matrix a Review of Directing Techniques." Entertainment Scene 360. RR Donnelley, 20 Jan. 2007. Web. 21 Jan.
2014. <http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/the-matrix-a-review-of-directing-techniques-32924/>.
"Lighting." Film Reference. Advameg, 2007. Web. 21
Jan. 2014.
<http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-Movies/Lighting.html>.
The Matrix: Trinity Escapes. Youtube. LLC, 14 Apr.
2010. Web. 21 Jan. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31OjOPF-ZI>.
Twedt, Chad. "Matrix
Resolutions." Matrix Resolutions.
Fundamentals Web Design, n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.matrixresolutions.com/index.html?page=colors>.
Wachowski, Andy, and Lana
Wachowski, dirs. The Matrix. 1999.
Warner Bros., 2004. DVD.
"Why You Truly Didn't
See The Matrix." The Latest Reviewer.
WordPress, 6 Dec. 2012. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.
<http://thelatestreviewer.wordpress.com/2012/12/06/the-matrix-hidden-messages/>.
