An analysis of the colour theory behind AMC's Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul, and how the show visually depicts its core philosophical conflict.
Full BCS colour chart: https://imgur.com/a/J98r28T
Dubbing Mixer: Martha James (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthajames)
0:00 - Introduction
1:50 - Breaking Away from Breaking Bad
3:26 - Moral Argument in Colour
4:17 - Red
5:28 - Blue
7:43 - Contextual Accuracy
8:37 - Yellow
9:58 - Mixing Colours
12:54 - The World According to Jimmy
14:38 - 'Bagman' Analysis
19:41 - Conclusion
References:
- Vince Gilligan, ‘Breaking Bad Season 4 Colour Me Bad – Breaking Bad Extras’, uploaded to YouTube by Movies Breaker (16th May 2021) https://youtu.be/T5z421qkfaY
- Better Call Saul Insider Podcast
- John LaRue, ‘The Clothing on Breaking Bad Is a Clue to Understanding the Characters’, Slate (12th Aug 2013) https://slate.com/culture/2013/08/breaking-bad-colors-infographic-clothing-provides-a-clue-to-understanding-walter-white-and-other-characters-photos.html
- Better Call Saul DVD Commentaries, uploaded to YouTube by Movies Flicker (12th Oct 2021) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIdtDgoGJI34ZlSN_0oQ6kPWMkTCdYsDN
- Jennifer Bryan in Megan Friedman, ‘The Better Call Saul Costume Designer Breaks Down Jimmy McGill’s “Showy” Style’, Esquire (24th Feb 2015) https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/interviews/a33315/better-call-saul-costume-designer/
- Still Watching Netflix, ‘Better Call Saul Hot & Cold Theory | Netlix’ (15th Jun 2015) https://youtu.be/1tN2K_Rq_K4
- Patti Bellantoni, If It’s Purple, Someone’s Gonna Die (2005)
- Peter Gould in Debra Birnbaum, ‘7 Things You Need to Know about Better Call Saul’, Variety (15th Jan 2015) https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-better-call-saul-1201399850/
- Vince Gilligan, ‘Better Call Saul Extras | The Ambush Part 2 – Behind The Scenes | Season 5 Episode 8’, uploaded to YouTube by Movies Breaker (3rd Mar 2021) https://youtu.be/3nu9UsX3ZYw
- Ological, ‘Basement Breakdown: Better Call Saul’ series, YouTube (9th Aug 2018) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUFjpVYc4j7XyIq6YNbOC7CpY3IqsuEx1
Music:
- Dave Porter, ‘Better Call Saul End Credits’, ‘Border Crossing’
- Lucho Neves y su Orquesta, ‘Mambo de Machaguay’
- Chuy Flores, ‘Methadone’
- Rich Ruttenberg, Joel Hamilton & Jerry Kalaf, ‘No More Dues’
- Planet E, ‘Klub Kola (Uptight on the Rocks)’
- Stanton Moore, ‘Blackbird Special’
- Les McCann, ‘McCanna’
- Tony Hymas, ‘Lady De Luxe’
- Lola Marsh, ‘Something Stupid (Instrumental)’
Additional:
- ScreenCrush, ‘How Breaking Bad Brilliantly uses Colour to Tell a Story’, YouTube (3rd Jul 2020) https://youtu.be/pOjafEURaeI
- BusinessKast, ‘The Breaking Bad Colour Theory’, YouTube (11th Feb 2018) https://youtu.be/75xq0A1Fi2g
- Marshall Adams in Go Creative Show, ‘Better Call Saul Season 5 Cinematography (with Marshall Adams ASC) GCS211’, YouTube (10th Mar 2020) https://youtu.be/kiB1j35bJds
- Thomas Flight, ‘How to Start a Scene in Better Call Saul’, YouTube (18th Sep 2018) https://youtu.be/EeOUVXXZX_M
- StudioBinder, ‘Colour Theory in Film – Colour Psychology for Directors: Ep5’, YouTube (6th Aug 2018) https://youtu.be/lINVnA3rVIE