Andrew Niccol is a New Zealand-born director who has created futuristic films in his writing and directing career spanning 20 years. Some characteristics of his directorial style are colour and positioning to symbolise characters and themes in his work. These factors are highlighted in the opening scenes in Gattaca (1997) and In Time (2011). Each film parallels each other specifically through camera work and colour, helping the audience to have a clear understanding of Niccol’s directorial style. He also uses these techniques to warn against social issues that could arise from the abuse of science and technology.
The opening scene in Gattaca is Vincent undergoing a constant stream of everyday tasks under a blue neon glow. Niccol mainly focuses …show more content…
The neon glow represents a harsh and unnatural world Vincent Freeman lives in as we are first introduced to the ‘special world’ of the hero’s journey. This world is based on genes and what you are more physically capable of doing. This blue is used throughout the majority of the film representing a melancholy sterile environment. Blue is often used in films to contrast against an actor’s skin tone creating a typical Hollywood blockbuster effect. Gattaca, however, continues its blue tint over the entirety of the shots tinting Vincent’s skin also blue to indicate that Vincent is consumed by the world. The colour scheme of the scene changes to incorporate the importance of the preparations Vincent undergoes. Added in are now the other primary colours beginning with the yellow fire from the incinerator to the yellow pee pouch and the red blood being injected into his artificial fingerprint. These are highlighted as …show more content…
The yellow filter also represents that the audience has been drawn back to the ordinary world before Vincent pursues his dream. Society, as well as his family, suppresses his dreams with the constant reminders that he is not good enough. Vincent holds onto his dream but believes they are correct. The cowardliness shown in these scenes is not Vincent’s or towards his dream, but the rest of his family as the filter only goes once he leaves them behind. When Vincent is born it is predicted that he won’t live past the age of 30. In a world ruled by science and not hope, he has turned away from schools and jobs due to his short lifespan. Vincent admits he begins to believe this in saying “From an early age, I came to think of myself as others thought of me: chronically ill. Every skinned knee and runny nose were treated as life threatening.” This changed when Vincent achieves something else that was supposedly impossible. Once Vincent beats and saves Anton he finally realises that if he could do that then he could do other things too and decides to leave his family who is holding him back. After that point, the dominant colour throughout the film is blue entering the ‘special
The opening scene in Gattaca is Vincent undergoing a constant stream of everyday tasks under a blue neon glow. Niccol mainly focuses …show more content…
The neon glow represents a harsh and unnatural world Vincent Freeman lives in as we are first introduced to the ‘special world’ of the hero’s journey. This world is based on genes and what you are more physically capable of doing. This blue is used throughout the majority of the film representing a melancholy sterile environment. Blue is often used in films to contrast against an actor’s skin tone creating a typical Hollywood blockbuster effect. Gattaca, however, continues its blue tint over the entirety of the shots tinting Vincent’s skin also blue to indicate that Vincent is consumed by the world. The colour scheme of the scene changes to incorporate the importance of the preparations Vincent undergoes. Added in are now the other primary colours beginning with the yellow fire from the incinerator to the yellow pee pouch and the red blood being injected into his artificial fingerprint. These are highlighted as …show more content…
The yellow filter also represents that the audience has been drawn back to the ordinary world before Vincent pursues his dream. Society, as well as his family, suppresses his dreams with the constant reminders that he is not good enough. Vincent holds onto his dream but believes they are correct. The cowardliness shown in these scenes is not Vincent’s or towards his dream, but the rest of his family as the filter only goes once he leaves them behind. When Vincent is born it is predicted that he won’t live past the age of 30. In a world ruled by science and not hope, he has turned away from schools and jobs due to his short lifespan. Vincent admits he begins to believe this in saying “From an early age, I came to think of myself as others thought of me: chronically ill. Every skinned knee and runny nose were treated as life threatening.” This changed when Vincent achieves something else that was supposedly impossible. Once Vincent beats and saves Anton he finally realises that if he could do that then he could do other things too and decides to leave his family who is holding him back. After that point, the dominant colour throughout the film is blue entering the ‘special