The Meaning of Color in Film

Cullen Parker

Color:
The quality of an object or substance
with respect to light reflected by the
object, usually determined visually
by measurement of hue, saturation,
and brightness of the reflected light;
saturation or chroma; hue.
Dictionary.com

Red
is like visual caffeine

Run Lola Run

The energy of the color red is

extremely relevant in the film,
Run Lola Run.
Lolas red hair is very symbolic
to her desperate need to run to
save Manni.

The Wizard of Oz
Once Dorothy
retained the ruby red
slippers she got,
the strength and
the power to make it
to the Emerald City.

Green
The Split Personality Color

Witness
Green is shown in the fields,
which helps to explain to the
viewer about the Amish
culture.
The Amish take great pride in
the land around them because
it is what gives them
sustenance and overall life

The Wizard of Oz

The evil witch of the west

had green skin, which is
thought to have made her
more evil of a character.
When seeing her prior to the
films transition into color, she
appears evil but not nearly as
wicked as she is when we see
the true color of her skin. In
comparing her to a
frightening life form like an
alligator.

Blue
Blue is the only color which maintains
its own character in all its tones... it will
always stay blue; Raoul Dufy, French
Fauvist Painter, 1877-1953

Avatar

The Navi have blue skin, which can

be symbolism for many different
things:
Spirituality with the tree and their
land
Tranquility because of prior to the
humans coming they were a very
calm species
They also can represent the sky
because they fly on the bird/dragon

Star Wars: The Empire

Strikes Back

During the scenes on the

planet Hoth, blue is used
to represent how cold
everything is.

Yellow
Yellow is the color longest
remembered and most
despised Dr. Harry Hepner

The Great Gatsby

Gatsbys car was yellow
The car was intentionally purchased
to grab Daisys attention.
More importantly however, it was a
symbol of being dishonest.
This is because yellow represents
cowardice and deceit, therefore, not
only should it grab Daisys attention
but also provide caution to her.
It being a symbol of cowardice fits
Gatsby perfectly because of how he
was afraid to approach Daisy

Little Miss Sunshine

The family drives a yellow VW

van for nearly the entire movie.
The yellow van symbolism power
because during the beginning of
the film, all the family members
seem separated both mentally
and physically.
When they joined together as a
group in the yellow van, they
were dysfunctional but were still
able to accomplish their goal by
working together.

Orange
The Sweet and Sour Color

The Shining
Creators of this film used
orange every where, on
the carpet, the walls, and
even some of the doors.
Intentionally placing this
color not only makes the
Tanner family feel welcome
and safe but the viewers as
well.
The film draws the viewer
in as if we were there with
the family. Then just when
we get comfortable, a
juxtaposition is created
between the interior color
and the hotel itself to
intensify the horror of the

The Fellowship of the Ring

The ring itself is gold
with orange lettering
once it comes in
contact with fire.
This is important
because the color helps
to draw Bilbo, Frodo,
and Golum into the ring
forcing them to put it
on.
Once it on the color
proves to be toxic,
because the Eye of
Sauron, which is also

Purple
If Its Purple, Someones
Gonna Die

Star Wars: Revenge of the

Sith
Mace Windu, a Jedi Knight
carried a purple lightsabre
During a fight with Darth
Sideous in the third
instalment of Star Wars,
Windu loses his life.
This is very significant
because he is the first
important Jedi character to
lose his life.

The Dark Crystal

The crystal itself was violet.

When cracked, the Crystal
changes color from white to
violet, becoming the Dark
Crystal.
This is when it changed from
the crystal of truth to the dark
crystal that had the ability to
drain the essence of life.

Color Correction
In some instances the amount of color can also
determine the genre of the film.
With Digital Color Correction this can be used a lot
easier.

Blue

Green

Gray

Conclusion
Color is used in many ways in film
The singular color used in symbolism
Or the amount of color and the way it is used can give the
other all feel of the film