when the director happens to be an expert in colour theory

Summary

This video analysis delves into the use of color in *La La Land*, examining how colors like red, blue, and purple reflect the emotional and thematic journey of the characters, Mia and Seb. The film’s vibrant color palette contrasts their dreams and realities, with red symbolizing ambition and passion, blue representing stability and routine, and purple highlighting their evolving relationship. The director, Damien Chazelle, uses these colors thoughtfully to enhance storytelling, drawing on old Hollywood techniques and modern sensibilities to create a visually rich narrative about love, dreams, and sacrifice.

Takeaways

• 😀 Color is used in *La La Land* as a narrative tool, enhancing storytelling by representing themes like dreams, reality, and relationships.
• 😀 Blue represents stability and reality, often paired with moments of mundane or unfulfilled existence.
• 😀 Red symbolizes dreams, ambition, and the risks involved in pursuing one's goals, frequently seen during key moments of aspiration.
• 😀 Purple emerges as the color representing the central relationship between Mia and Seb, symbolizing the highs and lows of their romance.
• 😀 Green is used sparingly but carries significant meaning, often indicating moments of emotional distance or change in the relationship.
• 😀 The film contrasts vibrant and muted colors to reflect the characters' emotional and narrative shifts, such as Mia’s growth from dreamer to realist.
• 😀 The use of color in *La La Land* draws from old Hollywood techniques, such as the rich hues of musicals like *Singing in the Rain*.
• 😀 Director Damien Chazelle used color intentionally to depict the tension between fantasy and reality, especially regarding Mia and Seb’s dreams.
• 😀 German Expressionist techniques influenced the film’s color design, using colors to convey mood and internal conflict, while still maintaining a sense of realism.
• 😀 Color in the film isn’t merely decorative; it serves to enhance the emotional resonance of key scenes, such as Mia’s audition and Seb’s club ownership.
• 😀 The visual style of *La La Land* contrasts the colorful world of acting with the more subdued, monotone jazz world, reflecting the characters’ artistic and personal struggles.

Q & A

How does the use of color in *La La Land* elevate its storytelling?

Color is used in *La La Land* to reflect and enhance the emotional and narrative arcs of the characters. Specific colors represent key themes such as dreams, reality, and relationships, adding an extra layer of meaning and depth to the story. The subtle transitions in color highlight the internal and external changes that the characters undergo, making the film’s visual storytelling richer.

What do the colors blue and red represent in the film?

In *La La Land*, blue symbolizes reality—moments when characters are grounded or faced with the unfulfilling aspects of their lives. Red represents dreams and the pursuit of passion, ambition, and the risks involved in following one's desires, especially in the context of Mia and Seb's ambitions to become a movie star and a jazz club owner.

Why is purple significant in the film?

Purple represents the central relationship between Mia and Seb. It symbolizes the blend of their individual dreams and the emotional connection they share. Purple is used in key moments of intimacy and unity, but also highlights the tension between their personal goals and their bond as their paths diverge throughout the story.

What role does green play in the film’s color scheme?

Green symbolizes change and transition, particularly in the relationship between Mia and Seb. It is associated with moments of emotional or physical separation, such as when Mia leaves her boyfriend for Seb, and later when the relationship faces difficulties. Green marks key turning points in the characters' journey together and apart.

How does the film use color to reflect the themes of dreams vs. reality?

The film uses color to visually distinguish between the world of dreams and the world of reality. Bright, vibrant colors like red and purple signify dreams and ambition, while muted tones, especially blue, represent the grounded reality of the characters' lives. This contrast enhances the thematic tension between pursuing one's dreams and facing the realities of life.

Why does Mia wear red during key moments in the film?

Mia wears red during moments that represent her pursuit of her dreams, such as when she is auditioning or interacting with Seb. Red symbolizes her passion, ambition, and willingness to take risks in her journey to become an actress, highlighting her dreams in contrast to the reality she faces.

How does the color palette change as Mia’s journey progresses?

As Mia’s journey unfolds, her color palette becomes more subdued. Initially, she is surrounded by vibrant, girlish colors that represent her youthful ambition and dreams. However, as she faces setbacks and becomes more mature, her colors shift to more muted tones, especially blue, symbolizing her growing realization of the difficulties in balancing dreams with reality.

What does the yellow color signify in the film?

Yellow in *La La Land* is used to signify moments of change or decision. It marks turning points for the characters, such as when Mia is about to make a major choice in her career or when Seb decides to move forward with his jazz club. Yellow serves as a visual cue for a shift in the characters' emotional or professional trajectories.

How does the film contrast the acting world with the jazz world through color?

The acting world in *La La Land* is represented by bright, vibrant colors, reflecting the dreamlike, idealistic nature of the industry. In contrast, the jazz world is depicted with more subdued, monotone colors, reflecting Seb's desire for authenticity and the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity in a commercialized world. This contrast helps to highlight Seb’s internal conflict as he chooses between true jazz and mainstream success.

How does the director, Damien Chazelle, use color as a narrative tool rather than just an emotional one?

Chazelle uses color not just to evoke emotions but as a thematic tool to represent key elements of the narrative. Rather than using color purely for emotional expression, he associates specific colors with larger themes, such as red for dreams, blue for reality, and purple for the relationship between Mia and Seb. This approach adds depth to the story, making color an integral part of the film’s storytelling structure.