Color theory isn’t just important in artworks. Filmmakers must be aware of the colors they choose when creating a film since color is one of the most used storytelling devices. Whether essential to the narrative or acting more symbolically, the tone and mood in films are dependent on the colors chosen for the scene.

The Basics of Color Theory 

How would one describe color? It’s a difficult question, even without knowing the many meanings of each color. Colors are commonly associated with a feeling or symbol, though they can sometimes be contradictory such as red being a representation of love and anger. Known as the study of how colors work together and affect viewers’ emotions and perceptions, color theory is the science and art of using color. Color is made up of its hue (the color), saturation (the intensity), and value (the brightness). Any slight change to any of these can change the emotion being expressed in a film.

But why might a scene bathed in muted blues make the viewer feel hopeless? That comes down to color psychology, which is the study of how colors can affect human mood and behavior. Filmmakers are purposeful with what colors they choose to influence the audience’s emotions and perceptions. Usually, this is done without the audience even realizing it, making it an intriguing topic to study. Specific colors are commonly associated with some sort of feeling, though one color can usually be related to more than one emotion. Subdued colors are calming or evoke a sense of dread or emptiness, while bright colors are much more energizing and hopeful.

Storytelling and Color

Colors are far from just visual details. They’re the best way to convey emotion and meaning in media. Audiences will notice that certain movies will have a set color palette that helps to set the emotion of the scene. A director’s choice of color enhances the storytelling. Without color, a film would have to double up on other features like expressions to get emotions across. It would be like telling not showing in a novel. The audience will enjoy themselves so much more by being able to experience the story colorfully. Successfully creating the mood and tone is an essential aspect of any film, and color helps accomplish this.

Here are only a few emotions each color can evoke. Keep in mind there are many more possibilities, mainly depending on the saturation and value of the color. Red represents love, danger, hope, and anger. Yellow represents joy, naivete, illness, madness, or insecurity. Orange can convey warmth, youth, and happiness. Green is highly suggestive of nature, while also representing disgust or corruption. Purple is ominous while pink expresses femininity and empathy. Meanwhile, blue can be anywhere from calming to cold to melancholic.