Patience

Within the story of patience the main character is in emotional turmoil. The main Character is a hit man named Frank. His physical appearance tells us that he is fairly strong but his wrinkles suggest that his years are catching up with him. His facial expressions however paint him in a very different light. His long face and drooping eye brows tell us that he is despondent. The story itself is about a contract killer who ultimately has to decide whether or not to kill his lover or discard the contract completely. The story focuses on the moral issues felt by the main character as well as his reluctance to carry on in the criminal underworld.

You may be wondering why I am summarizing the story. It is vitally important in understanding the story and its contents before lighting the scenes, props and characters. For example harsh shadows strewn across a characters face can tell you something about his character or state of mind. Within the story of Patience there are a few props which have a key role in giving background to the character. For example a gun tell us that he is ready to take life. The boxing gloves upon the wall suggest that he was successful in the ring but now is caught in an endless downward spiral of crime and corruption. Lighting these props as well as the character appropriately will augment the story and set the tone of the film.

Understanding Film Noir itself will be key in identifying the techniques used to get the best out of the shots as well as the lighting in any given scene.