Sounds cool! Just make sure you've got a story too, otherwise people will just say you were copying other flicks.

Personally I think it is a great idea. Lighting and not lighting (shadow) placement can really push drama and emotion through the lens.

It is one of the better methods to build tension, set tone, emphasize the moment, and truly grab people. Its effects can be stronger then any dialog or exposition.

I wouldn't worry, if done well the audience will respond. Classic films like Casablanca, Vertigo, and The Third Man use this style or shadow technique elegantly to varying degrees.

The Third Man is a great example of a weaker story with little much really going on. But, with the dramatic lighting and music underscores the film is exciting. Read the script then watch it. I think you'll soon agree the lighting (or not lighting) made that film.

If you're interested in some more detailed how-to information I recommend both Matters of Light & Depth by Ross Lowell and Placing Shadows: Lighting Techniques for Video Production by Chuck Gloman.

Nice idea. The only problem would be that its very difficult to pull off very good atmospheric lighting on video (just an assumption) because video dosent have nearly as wider contrast range as film.

Make Love Not War!

An assumption is right.
?Normally I would just call anyone who said something that asinine and plainly wrong an idiot and move on. However, I'm in a cheery mood and want to avoid starting the next great film vs. video holy war.?

With the proper settings, filters, and lenses you can achieve results equal to and exceeding film's capabilities with DV.

Take a look of some high quality digital stills. http://digitaljournalist.org/contents.html Compare them to film stills.

Even with a cheap DV camera you can produce some great dramatic results with well-placed shadows and hard light. If you doubt, try it.

I'm not sure if I worded that question entirely correctally. The assumption was that the person is using video.
Its a well knowin fact that no video cannot capture the contrast range that celluloid can. Let alone little old indie DV formats.

Make Love Not War!

Have checked out the man who wasn't there. Not, in my opinion, one of the coen brothers' works but it is just that. A contempory homage to the traditional film noir, with some twists.

"It is not important that a director knows how to write but it is important that he knows how to read."
-Billy Wilder

there are some really good Dv projects that use this particular genre
like Richard linkleter(Tape) It has becomes a thing a actor range than format because this and other Dogme 95' films use no special lighting only existing.

Chris.