Workshop 4 - Creating the illusion of the other mother

• How does the director use costume to create the other mother?
• How do color and lighting affect our view of the other mother?
• 'It's easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar' - how does the other mother embody this saying?

Shot 1

Boring clothes, real mother look alike, soft/round/curved

Colours-grey/black red

Lighting-warms

shades of orange & yellow

Shot 2 

Wearing red/black/grey

curves still there

sharpening-apron/head

ligthing same

clothing style/changes

Shot 3

Sharpness-nose, elbows, clothing

eyebrows = emotions

Red/White/Black

shows more skin

Shot 4

Way sharper - head, elbows,  points

taller

not very human

thinner 

longneck

Shot 5

Thin, spindly, skeleton-skinner

almost no clothes-raggedy skirt

no skin, made of metal 

sharp angular joints head gets pointy

Colors-Shades of green/black/grey

frightening, creepy

Ligthing - dull/dim not a lot of light-feel like somewhere dark & creepy 

Changes

- no longer looks human because...

 

- taller

- angrier(sp) posture changes

- body shape changes - needle-like hands, legs, grow extra legs, hands get pointy, loses woman shape,

- clothes get sharper, better fitting, 

- more beetle-like

- sharp angles-nose, head, elbows, 

- gradual change-little things change every scene

Costume

The director skillfully uses red costume, ligthing, and color, to create the character of the other mother. We see a gradual change in costume from conservative casual clothes to short well-fitted dresses and finally nothing but rags. Her clothes also become sharper around the edges and are predominantly black with highlights of red.

Color & Ligthing

When we first see the other mother warm ligthing and use of a yellow/orange color palette make her seem warm and inviting. However, by the end the use of dim ligthing and green tones make her seem evil and frightening.

These film techniques help us understand the film as a whole because they show us the change from a kind and loving 'other' mother to her true form of an evil spider-like soul stealing demon.