Color Function and Composition

Colors serve important roles within a film. They can establish mood, illustrate a relationship between elements, and direct a viewer's attention. In the case of our commercial, colors is used to do all three.

Throughout the commercial, we continually see the repetition of softer colors--namely blues, blue-grays, whites, creams. They show up time and time again--in the bedroom linens and decor of the second couple, the bluish evening light with the third couple, in the supply closet of the fourth couple. These tones create a calmer, perhaps more seductive tone than would the constant use of bright hues. They put the viewer at ease and allow us to simply enjoy the humor and relatability presented.

Blue underwear, blue pillows. Blue logo screen.

Blue and whites everywhere! In particular, the shades of blue featured in the scene with the last couple--the man's underwear, the pillows--match almost spot-on with the logo screen shot at the end of the commercial. The director wants you to make a relationship between the couples portrayed in an entertaining manner and the overall meaning and message of the PSA.

The saturated yellow lei and orange funnel draw
attention and give context to the scene--it's party time!

The function of these neutral and pastel colors are to lend invitation to gestures and expressions, as opposed to highly saturated colors, which grab the viewer’s attention and give context to the scene. Case in point: The bright yellow and orange in the supply closet draw our eye and quickly communicate the office party atmosphere.

Composition is another important element to consider when analyzing media aesthetics. Composition consists of how the scene is laid out, or the arrangement of the mise-en-scene--all of the elements in front of the camera to be shot. A screen composition relies heavily on the rule of thirds, in which the character movement alternates from left side of the screen to right, never completely centered. These shots counterweight elements on screen, encouraging our eye to move back and forth. The third car-happy couple employs a strong diagonal composition, creating a form of dynamic framing.

BELOW:
Please Me Aesthetically's video on Color Function and Composition