Does anyone know how to use Lighting effects to make a Theatre scene Look Black and White?

Question

I am a Lighting Designer at the University of Southern Indiana. We are putting together a student design project. For a play we are doing the Director is trying to do this Black and white change from a color scene in no more than 15 seconds. I have stated to her tha I didn't think that this was possiable to do with out budget restraints, But I was hoping someone out there would know how to get this feature accoplished by just using some simple lighting technique that isn't commonly known.

Thank you to all that respond

Answer 1

turn up the red gels and widen your spot, then hang a shim. it pulls the color out unless of course you are wearing red

Answer 2

That's a tricky one. The sets and costumes will have to be colours that agree to the changes to skin tones. Reversable coats... spinnable sets....

'Make up' is not easy to deal with in 15secs.... Skin, or 'flesh color' is warm tones so you will need cold tones to contrast the yellow and red tones. Try a mix of very light blue and green gels to create an alternative wash.... then add some cold fluorescent or even 'black light' footlights to accentuate he change and 'dull' the look of the actors. It might also help, in the 'illusion' to have extra bright back lighting to contrast the fluorescent lights to restore the depth to the visuals, and wash out most colours in the set by turning them into sillouette.... and give that 'hair light' thing that is always there in those old black and white movies. For an added effect you could add a diffused strobe.... just be sure to warn anyone with epilepsy that a strobe will be used.
There are lights that can create the look you want.... but they are very expensive.

Answer 3

this actual movie is edited to maintain her in colour, at the same time as something of the movie is replaced to b/w. in case you will word the video displays on the section, she's in black and white.