Cinematography is one of the most important, if not the most important, aspect to building movie scenes. The way a scene is framed, the camera angles and lighting used, as well as the flow of the scene in general all relate back to the cinematography as a whole for each film. Moonlight (2016) is a great example of well thought out and thorough use of cinematography traits, making it no surprise that the film won “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards the year it was released.
Framing is a film technique that attempts to direct audience focus. Many different shot types and camera angles are used in the making of Moonlight. In one particular scene, when Chiron is a teenager, he is having a serious and heated conversation with his mother, Paula. During the scene, the picture is cut back and forth to show the film as if it is in the eyes of both characters, alternating. This is an example of a framing technique known as a point of view shot, where the audience can see through the eyes of the character and is watching the film through their perspective.
There are many different uses of the concept of depth of field throughout the film as well. This concept can help viewers to shift the focus of attention to one specific part of the screen. It often helps to drown out the background, which, in some cases, is not a necessary focus of a certain shot. Many examples of this can be seen through Chiron’s high school days. In many instances, it can seem as if Chiron is the only aspect of the screen in focus; this helps the audience to draw attention to him and his emotions when focused just on him.
Lighting throughout the film can be seen as that of low-key. There are only few moments of bright, high-key lighting points. Lighting can often set the mood for each scene; since many of the scenes in Moonlight contain little light, it can often be seen as a more serious tone of a movie or it could even represent the darkness that lies within Chiron throughout his life.
There are often many times that the element of movement can help display more realism in the film. Characters are often followed by the cameras, in such a way that it could feel as if the viewer is there with the character. When Chiron is featured as a young boy, he can be seen being chased by some of the other boys and is often running away. The camera angles capture the movement of his running, by making it seem as if the viewer is running alongside of him.
Works Cited
Moonlight. Directed by Barry Jenkins. Performances by Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, Alex R. Hibbert, and Naomie Harris. A24, 2016.
Picture of High School Chiron. Reel Rundown, 14 April 2017, https://reelrundown.com/movies/Moonlight-A-Story-Told-With-Color
Picture of Paula. IndieWire, 24 November 2016, https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/moonlight-naomie-harris-consider-this-1201749532/
Picture of young Chiron in grassy field. NickSchaden.com, 24 Feb 2017, http://www.nickschaden.com/2017/02/24/moonlight-personal-humanistic-and-warm/
Picture of young Chiron near water. Films with a Cause, 10 February 2020, http://filmswithacause.org/in-moonlight-black-boys-look-new/
Maria Palmeri CMS 285 