The director of 500 Days of Summer based the color scheme of the movie entirely around star Zooey Deschanel's eye color, according to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The 2009 romantic comedy stars Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt as the leading couple whose romance is anything but conventional. Director Marc Webb distinctly featured a nonlinear time narrative to show the whirlwind love story between Tom (Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Deschanel), and its ultimate downfall.
Although 500 Days of Summer premiered in theaters well over a decade ago, it's a rom-com that has stood the test of time. Unlike most films in the genre, the ending is laregely unpredictable as Tom and Summer don't get the typical happily ever after (alluded to in the film's opening narration, which promises the film is "not a love story"). 500 Days of Summer's clever plot, paired with aesthetically-pleasing cinematography, also help make the rom-com so memorable. In particular, Webb displays an impressive level of attention to detail, which allows for viewers to discover new moments during re-watches.
Gordon-Levitt recently spoke with Vanity Fair, revisiting some of the biggest roles in his career. When the actor spoke about 500 Days of Summer, Gordon-Levitt gave some interesting insight into Webb's thought process behind the colors in the movie. He points out that the color blue is overtly present in the film, being featured in everything from costumes to cinematography. Gordon-Levitt says this was actually purposeful, to match the bright blue color in Deschanel's eyes. He points out specific moments, like blue-patterned wallpaper or a sundress worn by Summer in the film. He elaborated:
"If you track the color blue throughout the movie, you’ll notice it. When you surround an actor with the color of their eyes, especially when you have these striking blue eyes like Zooey has, it really makes the eyes pop on screen.”
Gordon-Levitt also makes it a point to commend several other unique elements in 500 Days of Summer, like the "expectations vs. reality" element that flips Tom's fantasy love story into a crushing break-up. 10 years after its release, audiences are still praising the film's unique take on a classic genre with its offbeat storyline. However, the actor's revelation about a small design detail like the film's color scheme will likely be a surprise to many, and 500 Days of Summer is clearly even more nuanced than some viewers may first appreciate.
Webb taking inspiration from Deschanel's eye color is a subtle way to further make the film all about Summer's character. It perfectly mimics Tom's all-encompassing thoughts about his crush, and how his entire world becomes grounded in their relationship. 500 Days of Summer is all about exposing the reality of an often one-sided romance, and small details like the color choices prove Webb's dedication to that theme.
Source: Vanity Fair