B&W Moves P.2

How can black and white set a mood and create a tone? How can it heighten realism?

Black and white forces the filmmaker to make specific artistic choices with lighting instead of relying on color for emotional impact. This way, the monochromatic film can be made dramatic with harsh lighting or light-hearted with softer, flat lighting. Realism can be heightened in these films if they are portraying a setting in the 1900s where black and white photos were often used. The audience connects the time period to black and white because of the old photos and faded film they have seen. In this way, the lack of color can be used as a tool to make the film closer to the time period.