Visual Concept and Colors

By Peter Marshall

I have read many books and articles on Film Directing over the past 20 years. As I read, I underline or yellow certain sentences or paragraphs that contain valuable information. I then take these marked sentences and type them into a Quick Reference Directing file on my computer where I sort them into specific categories, print them out and keep them in my binder for quick reference.

The following list contains just a few of the “rules and guidelines” that I have accumulated over the years.

VISUAL CONCEPT

* image structure and style

* what is the PRIMORTAL IMAGE (to take the audience into this world)

* design a MOTIF (concept)

* repeat a motif it becomes a style

* decide on what the audience is going to see

* devise a DRAMATIC METAPHOR (motifs & symbols)

* what is the pacing & mood

* PATTERNS:

- triangles

- formalism, constructive, balanced

- circles

* motion going LEFT to RIGHT (comfortable)

* motion going RIGHT to LEFT (conflict)

* anything that is centered has no statement

* anything that is off-centre has implied action

* what is the colour of the story

* stillness creates focus

* action creates focus

* what dialogue is the most important to be heard

* what is the RHYTHM of the story/scene/act (build on the heartbeat)

COLORS

* PHYSICAL: ENVIRONMENT (red,orange, magenta)

- people who relate to the world by interacting with their

physical environment

* PHYSICAL: BODY (yellow, physical tan)

- people who relate to the world through the sensation

triggered by their physical bodies

* MENTAL (mental tan, green, nurturing tan, loving tan)

- people who think about the world and their place in it

* EMOTIONAL & SPIRITUAL (blue, violet, lavender, crystal, indigo)

- people who live in a world where the intangibles of life

(hopes, wishes, dreams) are more important than the tangibles

(emotions, feelings)

* EXTROVERT

- warm colours (red, orange, yellow)

* INTROVERT

- cool colours (green, blue, purple)

* CLEAR, BRIGHT COLOURS

- good physical, mental, emotional health

* MUDDY COLOURS

- depression, anger, self-pity

* RED

- anger, passion, rage, desire, vital force, achieve results,

the present

* PINK

- love and innocence

* YELLOW

- wisdom, knowledge, search for a way out, relaxation, hope of

greater happiness

* ORANGE

- humour

* GREEN

- healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness,

proud, unchanging

* BLUE

- faith, spirituality, complete calm, contentment, loyalty,

fulfillment

* INDIGO

- power, ego centre

* BROWN

- materialistic, sensation, money conscious, dispossessed and rootless

* BLACK

- extreme anger, people who hide feelings and things, ultimate surrender, No

* WHITE

- protection and love, positive energy, Yes

* GREY

- neutral, remain uncommitted, insulated, unwilling to take

part, non-involvement

* VIOLET

- sensitive intimacy, a magical state, erotic

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Peter D. Marshall is a filmmaker from Vancouver, Canada, He has worked in the Film and Television Industry for over 35 years. He also publishes the free monthly filmmaking ezine "The Director's Chair. You can check out his website at http://actioncutprint.com and his film directing blog at http://filmdirectingtips.com Peter can be reached at pdm@actioncutprint.com

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