From my research into similar products through internet research and analysis of past Film Noirs, I have developed an understanding of the key elements that go into making a Film Noir.
Firstly, the majority of Film Noirs are shot in black and white, even though colour picture film dates back to as early as 1895[1]. Much of Film Noir is shot as so to create a dark, depressive, moody feel of film, deriving from European expressionism, often shot with low-key lighting, and excessive use of shadows. [2] This tone of film was expressive of the dark side of human nature[3]. E.g. Sunset Boulevard, The Third Man, Double Indemnity
Secondly, the plots and storylines of classic Film Noir often involve complex and intricate crime drama narratives. Tim Dirks writes: “Storylines were often elliptical, non-linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze-like and convoluted, and typically told with foreboding background music, flashbacks (or a series of flashbacks), witty, razor-sharp and acerbic dialogue, and/or reflective and confessional, first-person voice-over narration.”[4] E.g. Sin City, The Night of the Hunter, Memento, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain-gang
Thirdly, there are a few pretty well defined character archetypes for Film Noir- the main three being: Hero, Doting Female and Femme Fatale. The Hero, as I outlined earlier, is usually a hard-boiled detective, cop, private eye, gangster, socio-path, writer, murderer or spy. The doting female is usually infatuated with the hero in some sense, perhaps as a love interest, or simply as one interested in his cause. The femme fatales are generally mysterious, duplicitous, double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, tough-sweet, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women. E.g. The Big Sleep, The Lady from Shanghai, Drunken Angel.
These, I believe are the main elements of a Film Noir- covering plot and narrative, tone and cinematography, and archetypal characters, and I intend to carry these three aspects into my own project.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_motion_picture_film Accessed 20th January 2011
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir Accessed 20th January 2011
[3] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html Accessed 20th January 2011
[4] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html Accessed 20th January 2011
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