LED the Way!

The most irritating aspect of film bro culture involves whining about old-fashioned film-making that went out of style: too much CGI nowadays? Practical stunt-work is often dangerous. Sex scenes are sterile? Many older ones were coercive. Digital film-making looks cheap? Real film-making is costly and erodes easily. But the complaint that bugs me most, enough that I’ve covered it before, involves lighting. Especially since I understand more about why modern films look “dull”.

Apparently, movies of the 1970s to 2010s used different lighting, thanks to old-fashioned light-bulbs. Once the world started using LEDs, and movies followed suit, the look of films changed. That shiny gloss we were accustomed to became what we have now. Makes sense, as LED bulbs are made differently. Unfortunately, many people started to notice, and they began complaining.

Here’s my counter-argument: grow up. Not only are LEDs cheaper, they’re more eco-friendly. While old-school light-bulbs had a certain feel, they also produced plenty of excess energy and heat. If you ever needed proof, recall what’d happen if you touched one by accident when it was on. Better yet, recall what’d happen if they came in contact with water. Old-school light-bulbs were “cool”, but they were also quite dangerous.

LEDs aren’t only less dangerous, they’re also more efficient. Yes, they give off “flatter lighting”. But if it means not burning or hurting myself, I’ll gladly take it. That matters more than if a movie lacks a classic feel. I’d hope that’d be common knowledge, but...

LEDs also aren’t as harsh on the eyes. Ever since I started wearing glasses, I’ve found that traditional light-bulbs jolt my retinas whenever they suddenly turn on. They also leave a glare that I still see for minutes afterwards. Much like the Sun, they even give me headaches when at full capacity. I don’t need that.

LED bulbs are easier to deal with. You can set the tint to any colour or brightness, but they don’t overwhelm my corneas. If that means they aren’t flashy, then guess what? It’s a trade-off I’m willing to make. That goes for films too.

Truthfully, this is the pettiest whining I’ve heard from film bros. And I’ve heard plenty! So what if films don’t look like conventional films? Modern movies also have sheens to compensate for digital film-making. Compare the original Indiana Jones movies to the most-recent ones. It’s as noticeable as the drop in the franchise’s quality.

I get it, you want to experience the films of yore, back when “movies meant something”. You want the pomp and circumstance of a simpler era. Sorry to burst your bubble, but life wasn’t simpler. You also have to stop living in the past. It’s that false nostalgia that’s led to many problems geopolitically.

You’re also not giving modern film-making enough credit. The barrier to entry is shrinking with each year, such that you can even make professional movies on smartphones. That wasn’t possible 20 years ago. Shouldn’t we be praising that? Why is it so scary?

There are definitely problems with the modern film industry. On the theatrical side, I’ve gone into depth about that in a previous piece. And I’m not alone! Steven Spielberg, Ryan Gosling and the CEO of Sony Pictures have all expressed similar frustrations as me about modern film-making! But they’re still engaging in the now. They’re doing it out of love for the industry, not to shamelessly project their insecurities onto it. I wish many film bros would do the same, however much it kills them emotionally.

Besides, old movies aren’t going anywhere! Sure, digital streaming has made preservation of media harder, which is depressing for many reasons, but older movies still exist. Many are even available physically for anyone to purchase, assuming that’s your jam! But for the love of God, stop complaining about newer movies! And stop complaining about their dull lighting! You sound old and cranky when you do that.

Here’s a rhetorical question for you: what does an ideal movie “look” like? I ask because people have different definitions of “ideal”, and no two responses are the same. But you know what? That’s okay! Movie consumption’s subjective, despite what I say here, lighting included. If you have a problem, you can always say so. I can’t guarantee I’ll be swayed, though...

Finally, we need to collectively recognize that the older ways have to stay in the past when they’re not working. Like the coercive sex scenes, dangerous stunt work and traditional film reels of yore, classic lighting should be acknowledged for the time period where it worked, not clamoured for in today’s day and age. It’s tough, but considering how ecologically-inefficient, and dangerous, old bulbs were, I’ll take the LED option any day of the week. We’re already doing a piss-poor job at stewarding the planet, enough that the future looks bleak for humanity, so take the wins wherever you can get them. I promise you won’t die sucking up your pride.