Film Language: Lighting

Lighting is used in various ways in films. It helps to portray a setting or mood in each scene we are watching. The lighting in a scene can help to steer the audience to feel a certain way or look at a specific area on the screen whilst keeping the other details in the background still visible but not in full focus.

In the film studio the lighting is usually provided by three main sources:
The key Light: this is usually the brightest light in the studio and the one that has the most effect.
The Back Light  this is the light that contradicts the key light therefore making the character or object on screen appear more 'rounded'.
The Filter Light: this light is used to soften the strong shadows created by the other two lights used. There may be multiple filter lights on the set.

The key lighting can be moved from one angle to another to try and create the various effects in the set.
Under lighting: this is when the lighting is provided from below the subject. This can have a distorting effect on the character or object on screen that the light is being used for, this is most commonly used in films such as horror.
Top Lighting: this is when the main source of lighting is supplied from above, this helps to bring out the features of the character - it can be used to make the character look glamorous.

Back Lighting: this lighting is used behind the subject of focus. if there is not much other lighting used then this light will create a silhouette.