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Color Me Embarrassed...

Derrick Bassett

During one of my first productions as a director I had a member of the production team ask me (in an effort to understand more about the show) what the color palette was and why I had chosen to go that way. I quickly realized that I had overlooked what initially seemed to be a very small factor, but in truth was a very big piece of the show. I had failed to realize that I wasn't utilizing perhaps one of the most effective tools in my bag of tricks. Color.

There are two main ways to utilize color in production. The first is symbolism; the use of color as a symbol throughout culture and religion. This is seemingly the most common and effective use of color in the arts (literary, performing, and visual); yet requires a great deal of finesse to successfully accomplish the desired result. Each color can be used to symbolize a wide variety of emotions or ideas. Below are a few examples of colors and what they symbolize.
In Fallen/Forgive (a dance show produced by 6ft Studios) there was a section that depicted the creation, fall, and redemption of humanity which utilized symbolism throughout the costuming, props, and lighting. Ever color used; black, red, white, brown, and their various shades each had a symbolic meaning and purpose. For example, red was used in lighting Satan, the color of the apple, and in the costuming for the demons to represent evil. Different shades of brown were used in costuming to represent different nationalities in fallen humanity and were carried on into Jesus' costume as he came to die and take on the sin of fallen humanity. Finally, white was used throughout in costuming and lighting to represent purity.

The second way to utilize color in production is through psychology; the effect of color on human behavior and feeling. I have found that this is a much easier way to utilize color; specifically with lighting, but also in costuming, set design, and make up. While the perception of color is somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning. For example, colors in the red area of the spectrum are known as warm colors and can evoke emotions ranging from warmth and comfort to anger, hostility, and excitement. In contrast to that, colors in the blue area of the spectrum are cool colors and can evoke feelings of sadness, calmnes, or relaxation. Below are a few colors and how they tend to affect brain function and perception.
Psychology of color can be very effective in setting the mood for the show before it even begins. When I produce concerts, worship services, and dramas, et cetera I often want the audience to anticipate what is going ot happen and be excited for the start of the show. Due to this fact the pre-show lighting design will call for a warm color to help accent part of the stage or atmosphere. In most cases I have chosen red. However, there have been a couple of instances where I have chosen cooler colors (such as blues, purples, and greens) to keep the excitement to a minimum and creat a more intimate setting in order to move easily into the program, worship set, et cetera. Creating a low mood with colored lighting has also been very effective at creating a surprise when the show "starts with a bang."

The strategic use of color in production can be a highly effective tool. Though it can take a lot of finesse and skill to effectively use color as symbolism or as a psychological stimulant - don't be afraid to use it. Play, experiment, and have fun trying to find what works best for your production.