Blog # 3---Option 2

There are quite a few different types of lighting in the film making of Hollywood. Three point, high key, low key, and star lighting are some of them. Three point lighting is the most common lighting setup in Hollywood. It’s called three point lighting because the three points refer to the three dominant sources of illumination. Each source can contain as many lights as needed, not just one light from each point. The three points of light are termed the key light, fill light, and back light. An example of this setup would be that the key light is directly in front of the person, really lighting up their face, the back light shines from behind them, and the fill light comes in at a diagonal on the side and is right next to the camera shining on the front and back. This setup establishes overall lighting directionality. The lighting setup is not always the same though, it depends on location or setting specified in the script.
The most common lighting effects that three point lighting produces when manipulated is high key and low key lighting. These don’t describe the position of the light, but the ratio of fill light to key light. In high-key lighting, that ratio is very high. That means that the amount of fill light is extremely high to reduce shadows from the key light. The light is then evenly distributed. When you think of when high key-lighting, it tends to be used in upbeat genres such as comedies and musicals.
Low-key lighting is the opposite of high-key lighting. The ratio of fill to key light is low now. The shadows produced by the key light are not completely filled in therefore, there is an uneven distribution of light. Low-key lighting is most commonly found in downbeat genres, such as mysteries, thrillers, horror films, and with films noirs.
Start lighting highlights certain features of the major performers and makes the expression on major performers faces readable. It singles out the chief figures in a scene by giving them their own special lighting system, so the focus is on the important performers. The light draws the audience to what is important. The light appears to come from within who it’s shining on. It can also bring the charismatic presence out more with some performers.
In conclusion, every scene in a Hollywood film combines realistic, directional, motivated lighting with unrealistic star lighting. And audiences never seem to be bothered by the apparent contradiction(p. 57 Belton).