The Look of “Breaking Bad” — Part 2
Posted on August 28, 2013 at 8:00 am
I loved the piece on the use of colors in Breaking Bad. And this IndieWire post on the look of the show, especially the use of light and dark, is, well, illuminating.
The Writer’s Room on the Sundance Channel
Posted on August 20, 2013 at 8:00 am
Oscar-winning writer Jim Rash (with Nat Faxon he co-wrote “The Descendants” and “The Way Way Back”) hosts one of the best new shows on television, “The Writer’s Room.” The writers and key cast members of Breaking Bad, Parks & Recreation, Dexter, New Girl, Game of Thrones and American Horror Story tell the stories behind the stories that keep us coming back week after week. Highly recommended.
And while we’re on the subject of writing, check out this interview with Marc Norman (“Shakespeare in Love”) from my friend Robert Elisberg.
What the Colors of the Clothes on Breaking Bad Tell You About the Characters and Story
Posted on August 18, 2013 at 8:00 am
I love stories like this wonderful analysis by John LaRue about the way the costume designers on “Breaking Bad” use the colors of the characters’ clothes to tell you what is going on.
There are a lot of patterns that emerge, so much so that each character has an identifying color.
After Walt’s cancer diagnosis, his colors become stronger, and eventually go black. When the cancer returns or when he’s defeated, the drab khaki returns. The closer he gets to Gus, and the stronger his ties to blue meth, the more blue shows up in his barcode.
Skyler starts out blue, but turns dark once she starts to figure out Walt’s secret. Her timeline turns deep blue, almost purple, as her flirtation with Ted grows, and then it turns green once she discovers Walt’s stash of money. The more complicit she becomes in Walt’s criminal activity, the blacker her timeline gets to the point that it’s pitch black in season 4.
Fascinating!