Visual Treatment for Black Ice
(Tone)
Many of the the visuals that will be used in Black Ice will be an attempt to play off the mood of both the time period and emotion that our main character “Buck” experiences. Keeping in mind that color and lighting must follow “Bucks” perspective moody large source clean and desaturated images will be used to help the viewer experience life as he sees it. Cool blue and green tones for his years of loss, confusion, and judgement; warm and colorful tones for his developing memories both of his father and his relationships, and high key natural tones for the years of resolved conflict.
( Lens Choice)
Perspective from our main character “Buck” will be best achieved through as the viewer sees what he sees. Because of this idea we will be shooting on Arri Master Anamorphic Lenses to better have the ability to pull out the characters and details in the frame and wrap the rest of the frame with soft fall-off using the lenses image warp. Each of these lenses show natural sharp colors while shifting perspective to details but pulling the subject forward and wrapping colors and set pieces around them. Shots with faster movement like our high speed plays on ice will appear to be faster and with a shallower depth and our long wide shots will appear more distant as specific pieces are singled out to assist the viewer in seeing the world through “Bucks” eyes.
(Camera Choice)
Color, skin tone, sharpness, light, depth, and fall-off are all deciding factors when choosing which camera and which sensor to use on this project. Our goal is to let the viewer connect emotionally to the images on the screen to better understand each emotion “Buck” and the other characters are going through. Getting as close to each character as possible and letting them play on screen without limitations of these items will help us achieve that. The Arri ALEXA Mini LF is the camera of choice for this project because the large format sensor paired with the anamorphic glass will allow us to shoot in both dark and light environments and not make visual choices based off of limitations but rather based off of the emotions that our characters feel. Color science with this “Large Format” sensor will appear vibrant and natural; high key images with the dynamic range of this sensor will allow us to shoot high key images while exposing them as the eye sees; and dark moody scenes will allow us to underexpose and pull out the detail from the images where only practical light motivates the scene. These are choices that will help us connect the characters with the viewer rather than detract them from the story.