What is Modern Film Noir? | Why You Should Use Hard Light

[@clbazar]

Fantastic content! One minor point. In classic Noir films, the camera moves quite a bit more than was represented here. True, there were no steady cam shots, but if someone was to work strictly from the info provided here, they might come away thinking that the camera is always locked off. Go back and watch Mildred Pierce or Maltese Falcon or any of the greats filmed back in the day. Whether it’s simple pans/tilts or dolly/crane shots, directors absolutely moved the camera quite a bit. It was subtle, but effective. And I suppose we should throw rack focus in there as an in-lens movement. Related note: Director Michael Curtiz, and DoP Arthur Edeson give a virtual masterclass in when and how to move the camera in Casablanca. I think because in many modern films we are constantly moving the camera, we tend to think of Noir, as well as other movies made in the past as not having much camera movement at all. There’s definitely not as much given that 35mm cameras with a full mag back then were the size of Volkswagens, but the earlier pioneers did a lot with a little, which is, I guess, a lesson in itself. Anyway, end of bloviation, this was a very well done and informative piece, and made me want to go buy a bunch of Aputure lights! :-)

[@moulimusiqs2964]

Your channel is more than a film school to me! So many information for free.

[@aputurelighting]

That's the goal!

[@KWilliamWhite57]

I honestly think modem noir is more about style. Like the show Riverdale, I think, is an incredible modern noir and their lighting is generally pretty soft. This episode gets across noir too, of course, but it seems like more of a feeling and tone than exact lighting specifications. Y'all are incredible. Learning so much!

[@aputurelighting]

Very true!

[@lonnease6415]

Love the video! They're getting better now that they're longer! Valentina, here's a challenge for you and your DPs in future videos: lighting more for a scene as opposed to lighting for a particular shot. Often in indie productions we're filming handheld/w/ gimbals roaming around in a scene (to save time/money) which makes lighting with practicals, hiding lights, and lighting into a room vital for giving the actors and camera room to move around during a shot. I know that often means sacrificing ideal lighting, but it happens a lot and it's tough to do but tutorials from you would help us greatly!

[@aputurelighting]

Funny that you say that! Videos about this are coming soon

[@dilstories]

There should be a way to subscribe to a particular upcoming video.... have you thought of a mailing list? Is there one?

[@gordieborg]

Modern noir, by definition, needs to be dark. The hard highlights help. But I think there is an essential story element that can't be overlooked--the tension and mystery.

[@aputurelighting]

Totally agree!

[@gillesmatheronpro]

See my comment. 😃

[@rohans4083]

Okayy!! now I know what is noir.. 🤓🤓

[@1NOnlyAdityaOfficial]

That board ... With Gandhi's Words ... ❤️

[@joeyconnolley5621]

Funny enough, I just shot a film noir short this week. While we didn’t have the spotlight, we hung up actual venetian blinds on a c-stand and blasted through them with a 300x/fresnel - which I learned from four-minute film school a few weeks ago! Those types of shadows are classic film noir. As far as defining modern noir, I believe it’s when the visuals aid in creating mystery in either a crime or thriller genre. For example, low-key lighting leaves a lot in the dark, creating subconscious mystery of what’s unseen for the audience. Of course, it’s only a film noir if the lighting supports the genre - noir lighting for a musical/comedy would just leave everyone confused. Also, seeing the Spotlight Mini Zoom and LS60 Softbox is getting me real excited for those to finally be released!

[@maxmeme4538]

For me one of the best modern noir movies is nigth crawler, not only because it is dark with harsh ligthing, but because the story itself is dark and reflects the dark side of human nature. The cinematography is, like in all great pictures not only supporting but an importent aspect of the story, if not even a character in the story. The pacing is fast but not rushed and it has one of the best depictons of a flawed hero i have ever seen. Greetings Jasper

[@BRGriffin]

I think of modern noir as stylized dramatic lighting-usually back-lighting the subject and having heavy contrast. Modern noir can add a great amount of color as opposed to classic noir. I love how you guys described it as playing with the shadows. There is a lot of use of darkness in noir!

[@djlive408]

Valentina Vee always brings the best content! Love her energy!

[@jacobharrison630]

Haven't worked too much with this before but I definitely think stronger contrasts of lighting and an overall darker look and style!

[@henriquesommervianna6391]

Modern Noir as well as classic Noir draws attention to the visible while increasing the tension in the hidden with the advantage of using color contrast to convey different sensations to the spectators.

[@riojohnelenterio7467]

I like the vibes of modern noir, it kinda likes of cinematic with a great of shadows shapes of character, it feels like bold and action.

[@raymondlinares8307]

Modern Noir: Pacing, Tension and Character driven cinematography really emphasizing story and drama in the scene and tying in character emotions with effective framing and use of color.

[@gusj2800]

If I take out one thing from your list, is it still modern noir?

[@henrymwakajumba]

it was funny they wrapped and left the talent still tied to the chair 😂😂

[@juliankurwan7357]

Great video as always! Loved the modern noir in Nightcrawler, those harsh shadows pulled the viewer into to story and set a dark dramatic view which matched that dark sad (crazy?) topic of the film Love your Lighting Equip, especially the Nova !

[@GumbyTTL]

While I agree that the low key lighting and the harsh shadows are critical to the noir aesthetic, I think it can also be done with color. Ad Astra gave me a very noir vibe with an amazing use of color to establish contrast. Also, just my two cents, but I think I would have left a globe in the practical above the rookie, and color matched the overhead 60 as a motivated light.

[@emanuel.s1k]

Nice type of lighting!

[@aputurelighting]

Thank you!

[@ImagenStudios]

Love the content! So much to learn from. As creators we sometimes forget that the quality of light is a huge factor in film so thank you for all the real value content. As for Noir Film's go HANDS DOWN Blade Runner 1982. Can not wait for the next video thank you.

[@colet5836]

I think modern noir often times balance naturalistic lighting and stylization. I think that is a key aspect of the modern noir, as there are films such as Prisoners, that have lots of scenes that largely lack any sort of stylized lighting and are done naturalistically, but then there are other scenes where the light is stylized for a more unnerving effect. In prisoners it is done constantly and there are even some scenes, such as the interrogation scene, that you would probably expect to be far moodier and darker than it actually is. I personally love this balance as I think it makes for beautiful films that also have impact.

[@gkochanowsky]

Thank you, I find your episodes very thought provoking.

[@aputurelighting]

That's great to hear

[@danielolayiwola8113]

The modern noir, a type of lighting that has character to the scene and can easily communicate a story, and the feelings of a talent, I really enjoyed this episode, please can there be an episode on production design

[@aputurelighting]

That's a good idea!

[@maxmeme4538]

Its nice to learn about the positoning of ligth but I would be also intrestet in ISO, f-stop and this stuff exspecily in low ligth situations like here. Love the vids, greetings

[@seanwaits]

Modern Noir takes the principles of a classic noir like suspense, and subtractive lighting to really heighten the story and the mystery of a story.

[@drmatthewhorkey]

I always lot of noir as being full black and white, so this was a great tutorial.

[@cnlicnli]

The camera angles and cuts where done really well!

[@bdscoveredstudio]

Great stuff! I find myself leaning toward a modern noir look not by choice, but by lack of budget for lighting modifiers that actually work (i.e. the diy modifiers that end up looking worse than none at all).

[@shubhamkaintura7003]

At -01:58 I just realised that you guys had a black board there in which something was written in hindi about ghandi ji... Does anyone of you are from india or if not, then please tell me how did you guys got that...

[@kameramanhv]

01:45 there is a sign board with GANDHI name on it and something written in Hindi. Is it a set for Hindi Film?

[@helgatoth019]

Modern film noir has obviously different aesthetics because of color, different gear and lamps we use, but in the same time it evolved in its complexity. When in classic film noir we could see a lot of unwanted shadows, now it is more easy to eliminate them, and work with smaller lights, flags etc.

[@thewildernesshiker-howtose4438]

Noir for today? In the dark in the woods at night. That makes for a fun real challenge.

[@aputurelighting]

Lighting in the woods at night is definitely a challenge!

[@thewildernesshiker-howtose4438]

@@aputurelighting when will the mini 20 lights be available again?

[@Mad1Lee]

I don't get it, so are those snippets from the shoots of actual tv shows/movies or is the whole concept done just for the youtube video about how to do photography for noir? I am a second year film student and this is a really solid stuff that they teach in school except filmschool tuition is not free usually. And this is absolutely free youtube video with a great insight into the craft. Amazing job!

[@xUEFAx]

Modern noir and classic noir not only relate to the visual elements (often represented by dark, high contrast lighting) but also the themes present. In this situation, as is often the case, it's related to crime dramas/thrillers, following either a troubled detective or a dangerous criminal. The visual elements heighten the tense/moody situation created by the story itself.

[@aputurelighting]

Very true! Following a crime will always be a staple in film noir

[@media3650]

Very Nice - Just go to @10:28 - Breakdown #2 - to see full diagram of all lights used in the Film.

[@CultureJapon]

just what I needed!!! Love the noir style, probably my favorite lighting technique. Thank you V and all of you aputure cool budies 💛💚 Special bonus for valentina's acting on begining of the video 😂😂 Btw, could we have some ratio lighting next time please?🙏 Like, how do you set your ratio to get contrast and suspens while getting good exposure

[@hytralium]

Just a hard light from the top and you got your noir scene (yes, i wanna have the light too:)

[@xasaintx]

My favourite modern noir is actually one that doesn't really look like or fit the style, Rian Johnson's Brick. What defines a noir to me in look is hard light and shadows, but Rian didn't rely solely on these as much of the film is shot in bright sunlight, but his plot, characterisation, and script make the film feel noir even when it doesn't look it.

[@mexigecko9226]

As my fella Paul Schrader said, Noir is more a mood and tone than a film gender, and alongside the photography elements that appear in this (great) video as the hard lights, low key lighting and the use of shadows (as silhouettes, to give texture, etc) I think it could be more define by a feeling of paranoia by the main character, this because of the persecution and tangled plot (with its plot twist, betrays and femme fatales) alongside a urban landscape. Even the "hard boil" protagonist -that its also a recurrent element- isn't there, the other characteristics appear such as in Blue velvet, Inherent vice and The great Lebowski (which are in more modern times and with color)

[@gusj2800]

I have a hard time defining noir in general, so it's even harder for me to define modern noir. Maybe Prisoners from Villeneuve?

[@FilmQi]

thanks for the video, nice job!

The modern noir is when your heart rate keeps on high level and your eyes, ears are much more sensitive because if the story coming close to your feels with lights from sharp angles.

[@aashotoshsk9387]

Love the random Gandhi Ji quote in the center of the house!

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

Beautiful work. Would you say CSI (original) is new noir?

[@andor001]

A murder!!?!?! Fantastic episode.

[@dangclarence]

I think of Modern Noir as any film using high contrast visuals to tell a story with a whole lot of shades of grey. The interesting moral kind, not the abusive relationship presented as BDSM kind.

[@shubhamkaintura7003]

I missed you valentina V ❤️❤️ i watch all your videos, like i told ypu sometimes i just watch it for you more then the 😅😅 Love from India

[@LeoArmenta]

The modern noir!!! Excelent tips thanks!!!

[@ErisedMediaCo]

Was the close-up lit exactly the same as the wide? Looks great close up but you usually have to light it differently.

[@RayneWeddingFilms]

Aputure is the new FilmRiot!

[@aputurelighting]

We love Film Riot!

[@gillesmatheronpro]

How would I define "noir" ? Well, in French "noir" means "black", so here you have your definition. Whether modern or old-fashioned, black is dark, and this sums up the whole idea. Then, for the curious ones and to shine in society... in French, the expression "film noir" is barely used. More common is "polar", which has nothing to do with the poles or the stars. Rather is it a shorter spelling of "policier" ( = policeman) in a slang style. Funny how words can be twisted and tortured when shifting from their native language, and in a brutal way sometimes. Not in this particular case, where both usages are so similar.

[@gusj2800]

I learned something, thanks!

[@streetshots1589]

Thanks a lot for the free lesson🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@alphaohura762]

The intro got me laughing 😂 Great video and great content

[@DodaGarcia]

Lmao the Buddha moment at 4:40 😂😂😂 I love it when Val makes awkward jokes, I relate so much

[@saeed_kia]

This much of tutorials! You are great

[@blackpeachfilms4325]

Exactly!

[@pravitgandhi2288]

Modern noir- You have to make a dark scene using a bunch of lights on the set which helps to make hard shadows , feels like a very old and mysterious place

[@IndioA]

@Aputure - why you call this series "4 minute film school", when every episode is much longer? ;- ) but great stuff always!

[@cammackey]

What Sony LUTs do you guys use to color grade these shots?

[@aputurelighting]

We actually use a LUT that transforms the Arri Log-C color space into Rec 709.

[@uzoihe5374]

Most ppl don't have access to an Alexa Mini or any of the lights your using. The cheapest Alexa mini I found was $32,000+

[@mehdiabghial7626]

Valentina is better anytime 😻❤️❤️

[@rohans4083]

The angle of the sodium vapour look light looks like the head light of a car 🚘

[@finalstartfitness4473]

Love these videos

[@Phalaibert]

I've learn a lot🙏

[@aputurelighting]

Glad you found this valuable!

[@satish8889]

Fantastic

[@MVPSkoot]

Modern Noir, is hard light with a lot of shadows. And also With low key lighting.

[@kyhxx]

. amazing ^

[@enduraman1]

Good example of why you would want to use a flag to remove light from the doorway that would be a distraction.

[@aputurelighting]

It's the little things that matter

[@JackMajor]

You need to watch your audio meters when you scream, it's clipping a lot :) Turn down your audio inputs so you have audio headroom in post.

[@maconins123]

Great content marketing! And sorry, just bought a VL200;-)

[@soumyadeepchatterjee6982]

I saw Hindi in background... Love from India....

[@Jesuschrist-z8n]

Thanks a lots

[@rajkumar-rp9rh]

Your videos are more useful to me

[@aputurelighting]

Glad to hear

I like your videos but the only thing that bothers me is that all your videos are in 1080p, and on my 34” screen it's not too pretty to see 😃

By the way i'm the 4k guy 🤣

[@sanilalkuttimon1755]

😍😍😍

[@bluefilmsltd]

You mean neo noir?

[@idrisso.g.6316]

hard light strong contrast and shadows.... and actually shooting in BW but why not evolving with the time so as long as there are rich blacks its good

[@gusj2800]

Your videos looks expensive to create. Who pays for all that for us to have it for free? Anyway, thank you :)

[@teddyb5626]

5:17 Hot Valentina is modelling, awww

[@samswenson6434]

Modern noir = oooooo scary

[@DJBFilmz]

Blade Runner 2049, very noir.

[@rithwik8277]

Fincheresquely

[@breakerzee2874]

Lol 5:22

[@tubesurfer1977]

Host is getting hot. Alexa picture looks so amazing as expected. Acting was freaking atrocious, please for the love of film get actors who don’t steal the show, they are so cringeworthy you forget to enjoy it.

[@mdashifparwez6954]

Gandhi ji ne kaha hai......Hindi

[@soumyadeepchatterjee6982]

It says Gandi Ji once said. And the rest is blurry and not readable.. so sorry

[@soumyadeepchatterjee6982]

But it's something like " A country that is "Addicted" to alcohol is a perfect pray for Extinction. History Says that there are so many dinesties faced extinction because of it"...

[@soumyadeepchatterjee6982]

Yeah I think the garage belongs to some Indian family

[@jezersek_production]

My favourite modern noir is actually one that doesn't really look like or fit the style, Rian Johnson's Brick. What defines a noir to me in look is hard light and shadows, but Rian didn't rely solely on these as much of the film is shot in bright sunlight, but his plot, characterisation, and script make the film feel noir even when it doesn't look it.

[@aputurelighting]

Love that film!