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Cinematography The use of the camera to create a world that we perceive on screen cinematography is a language Governed by certain conventions, but not restricted by these conventions; reflecting and complementing the film’s other formal elements Shots
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Cinematography The use of the camera to create a world that we perceive on screen
cinematography is a language Governed by certain conventions, but not restricted by these conventions; reflecting and complementing the film’s other formal elements
Shots • Setup: the camera’s position for a shot • Shot: one uninterrupted run of the camera • Take: the number of times a shot must be repeated (think “take two”)
Camera people • The cinematographer assisted by • Camera operator and assistant camera operators (“ACs”) • Electricians: “gaffer,” “best boy,” “grips”
Film stocks • Gauges of film (8 mm – 70mm) – width • Speed of film (fast, slow) – “graininess” • Color • Black-and-white • Videotape vs. movie film (not in the Barsam book, but important!)
Lighting • How shots are lit affects how we perceive them • Lighting ratios: hard/high key, soft/low key • 3-point system: keylight, fill light, backlight • What’s NOT lit is an important aspect of lighting (just as offscreen space is as important as onscreen space)
Production Values • A term that describes the number of people and amount of resources expended on creating a film
Types of Lenses • Aperture: an iris that limits light • Focal length: wide, narrow angle, zoom. Different lenses are employed for different focal lengths (prime lenses, zoom lenses) • Depth of field: what planes are in focus
Framing • Aspect ratio (ratio of width to height) • Masks (placed over aperture to change the shape of the frame) • Transition effects (iris-out)
Framing and POV • Omniscient POV (most “usual”) • Single-character POV (can also rotate) • Group POV
Shot Duration • Slow-motion emphasizes the action • Fast-motion is usually funny • Long take (film permits 10 minutes, but this can be extended) creates feeling of real time and space
Three Basic Shot Lengths • Closeup shot • Medium shot (typical) • Long shot and gradations of these three i.e., XCS, XLS, MCS
Shot Depth • Deep-space composition • Deep-focus cinematography • The rule of thirds
Camera Angle/Height • Eye-level shot (from typical POV) • High angle shot (from overhead) • Low angle (from below) • Dutch angle (tilted) • Aerial view (from above – long shot)
Camera Movement • Contrast with lens movements (earlier) • Pan shot • Tilt shot • Dolly or tracking shot • Zoom shot (a camera effect) • Crane shot • Handheld or steadicam shot
Special Effects • In-camera (as in transition effects) • Mechanical (staged), including day-for-night, split screen, blow-up • Computer/digital
Visual themes in the film • Thresholds – doors, windows • Hallways • Domestic objects • Barred windows/enclosures