BLOG QUESTION ADV: HORROR LIGHTING TUTORIAL

What are three key techniques that these filmmakers use to create tension with their lighting in this scene? How did they use lighting effectively?

Projector attachments help replicate the looks of windows, making light seem motivated in a shot. Illuminating the face of your subject allows for your audience to associate themselves with the character, feeling their emotions. Color can allow you to evoke emotion in the scene, so don't be afraid to use unnatural colors such as red or green. Having underexposure is okay as it creates contrast, especially in night time scenes. Its important to have a good balance as underexposure creates mystery and tension, but we also want to light enough to convey important information (where a subject is in the scene). Rim lighting to highlight the monster. Monsters should be lit differently from your subject (sidelit, backlit, less well seen), as their reveal should be big.