Research - Color Theory

 Introduction

Hello and welcome back, today we’ll be researching color theory. Color theory in film is often overlooked but different colors can help create moods and convey certain feelings, the reason this goes unnoticed is because viewers subconsciously connect certain feeling to color with much thought, this is color psychology. Now let’s look what different colors provoke.

 

Colors

• RED – anger, passion, rage, desire, excitement, energy, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence.
• PINK – love, innocence, healthy, happy, content, romantic, charming, playfulness, soft, delicate, feminine.
• YELLOW – wisdom, knowledge, relaxation, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard, naivety.
• ORANGE – humor, energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant.
• GREEN – healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness, proud, unchanging nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy.
• BLUE – faith, spirituality, contentment, loyalty, fulfillment peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, sky, water, cold, technology, depression.
• PURPLE/VIOLET – erotic, royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning, power, sensitive, intimacy.
• BROWN – materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity.
• BLACK – No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger.
• WHITE – Yes, protection, love, reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile, religion.
• SILVER – riches, glamorous, distinguished, earthy, natural, sleek, elegant, high-tech.
• GOLD – precious, riches, extravagance, warm, wealth, prosperity, grandeur.

Movie Example

Examples of color theory are found in almost every movie across every genre. For the sake of relating this research to sport dramas we can look at the popular film Creed: The Next Generation starring Michael B. Jordan, fight scenes in the rink use darker color then scenes of his life outriding of boxing, red color is also used during fight scenes to convey passion, aggression, intensity, and violence.

 

Conclusion

 

Now that I’ve researched the different colors and what each means I can use this to help me convey emotions in my film opening by using color psychology. Thank you for reading and till next time where I’ll be comparing two sport drama films openings. Below I have some helpful links as well so feel free to check them out.

 

 

https://nofilmschool.com/color-psychology-in-film

https://digitalsynopsis.com/design/film-movies-color-psychology/

https://theasc.com/articles/creed#:~:text=Shot%20entirely%20in%20Philadelphia%2C%20Creed,and%20Mike%20being%20more%20yellow.”