Today’s tutorial clarified that my topic—lighting and character across animation, film and games—was too broad for a 1,500-word critical report. The key is to focus on character portrayal and ground the argument in specific scenes rather than general statements.
Nigel’s Feedback
Tighten the scope. 1,500 words won’t cover “film + games + animation”. Pick one work and a few key scenes to go deep.
Make an academic argument, not a list. Link lighting to narrative and character (status, intimacy, vulnerability) using established theory, not just description.
Use clear terminology. Think in terms of motivated vs expressive light, key-to-fill ratio, direction, contrast, colour temperature—and show how changes signal turning points.
Selective references. Gather ~12–15 targeted sources on mise-en-scène, narrative lighting, and representation; avoid dumping citations—each one should do work.
Next steps
- Focus on one film: Farewell My Concubine.
- Lock three scenes (interiors/controlled light). Note time and screenshot.
- Build a targeted reading list (mise-en-scène, narrative lighting, representation).