Colour Psychology in Film

As I will be re-creating book design for penguin covers, I wanted to look at the use of colour psychology in film, as all three books chosen have movie adaptations, and can be well linked to the films. After studying Film Studies in College, I have a key awareness for the use of cinematography and mis-en-scene and the ways in which these are executed to create a meaning. The use of colour associated to the books will link to the poetic references through the book, and also to the use of cinematography in the films. No only will I look at the association of colour to the ways it's been used in the film. But I will take into account the lighting in the film, the mood of the characters, and the surrounding in the book. 

Initial thoughts - 

The Jungle Book - bright, warmth, India, energetic, dangerous, mankind, fire - warm colours such as orange, red and yellow

The Great Gatsby - luxurious, 60's, glam, metallic, gold, green light, ethereal green - symbolises Gatsbys desire for daisy

The Phantom of the Opera - old, opera, dark, mysterious, murder, darkness - dark grey and monochrome colours 



To further my knowledge on the use of colour I watched a video called Colour Psychology  here are the notes taken below:

PINK - innocence, sweetness, femininity 

RED - anger, violence, passion, 

ORANGE - sociability , warmth, youthfulness

YELLOW  - youthfulness, madness, insecurity, 

GREEN - nature, immaturity, destruction, greed

BLUE- calm, remoteness, 

PURPLE - fantasy, erotism

BLACK AND GREY- destruction, darkness

Symbolic Meanings of Colours in The Great Gatsby by Zhang Haibing

No matter in the Oriental culture or in the Western culture, green is the colour of spring, which symbolises confidence, vitality and hope. In The Great Gatsby, the green colour runs throughout the whole novel, and it is closely related to Gatsby’s short life. So it symbolises Gatsby’s original dream and hope, his ceaseless pursuit of his dream and even the corruption of his dream and life. The green colour is closely associated with the green light occurred in the novel, which is closely related to Gatsby and the whole theme. The green light burning all night occurs three times in the novel.
Then he is full of hope at that time and the green light is his hope and dream. Though the light is minute and far away, he believes that only if he tries his best to purse it, he can touch the green light, hold his hope and realise his dream. But on the other hand, as the light is always minute and far away, it symbolises that Gatsby’s dream is doomed to fail. The second time when the green light occurs is in the fifth chapter. At this time, Gatsby has successfully shown his enormous fortune to Daisy and Daisy begins to cry stormily when she faces Gatsby’s incredible wealth.