Design English Cinematography - Meeting 1a
BASICS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY
Lecturer:
Dr. Immanuel Prasetya Gintings, S.S., M.Hum.
Elisa Betty Manullang, S.S., M.Hum.
(Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Medan)
3ING47144
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2020
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sks: 2
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SubCPMK1
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Able to explain (a) Basics of Cinematography; (b) The Language of Film; (c) The Grammar of Film: Type of Shots; and (d) Narrative Filmmaking [C2, A3].
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Week
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1
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Form
of Learning
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Lecture
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Learning
Methods
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●
Case study
●
Group Discussion
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Assignment
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Make
a portfolio of problem solving
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Learning Activities:
01. Introductory Theory
Making films isn’t just an art. It takes years of practice to cultivate a consistent craft and keen eye for filmmaking. It’s what separates great cinematography from cliché movie making. You’ve probably heard the term a million times, but what is cinematography? Before honing a craft, a deep knowledge of what it entails is critical.
CINEMATOGRAPHY MEANING
Let’s define cinematography
Understanding cinematography goes way beyond its definition. The dictionary defines it as the “art of making motion pictures.” Okay, well that is true, but what else?
CINEMATOGRAPHY DEFINITION
What is cinematography?
Cinematography is the art and craft of making motion pictures by capturing a story visually. Though, technically, cinematography is the art and the science of recording light either electronically onto an image sensor or chemically onto film.
It is the creation of images you see on screen. A series of shots that form a cohesive narrative. Cinematography composes each shot, considering, where everything in frame demands attention.
WHAT CINEMATOGRAPHY CONSIDERS
While the director makes key decisions regarding the camera, the cinematographer actually makes it happen.
CINEMATOGRAPHY ELEMENTS
What does a cinematographer do?
A cinematographer or director of photography (shortened to DP or DoP) is the crew chief that presides over the camera and light crews on a film or video production.
They are involved throughout the entire production lifecycle and liaise closely with the director to create the images you see onscreen.
What elements do they consider?
Let's look to iconic director, Roger Deakins, to see what he prioritizes, and then jump into the technicalities.
Camera placement
Where they place the camera greatly affects how the audience reacts to the shot, and therefore the rest of the scene. It can have significant emotional impact or even convey character behavior.
For example, if the story calls for a character to be seen as rude, or ill mannered while out on a date, placing the camera close to the subject’s mouth while chewing would be effective.
Camera movement
Camera movement can heighten the emotion and suspense in a scene. Choose to move the camera with the characters and gain perspective. Keep the camera static, and now we’re separated from them, peering in. Watch our video on camera movement below.
Shot Composition
Composition refers to the way elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. Shot composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements to convey an intended message.
One visual element that must be arranged particularly is your actors. Where will they be in the frame? Watch our video below on blocking actors. It's also apart of our Filmmaking Techniques masterclass series.
Shot Size
How much of the scene is actually seen? Are we in a close-up watching a subject’s face change expression?
Maybe it’s an extreme close-up on a subject’s attire indicating to the audience that they should pay attention to this.
Focus
Part of a cinematographer’s job is to play with focus to emphasize different aspects of the story. A basic example of this is showing how intoxicated the character is by going in and out of focus.
Lighting
While there is a separate lighting person, cinematography demands this knowledge. After all, cinematography is what we see on-screen, and how well or horribly the scene is lit is a huge aspect of the craft.
That's a lot to consider! How can you plan all of these decisions, and execute on your vision?
CINEMATOGRAPHY MEANING
Let’s define cinematography
Understanding cinematography goes way beyond its definition. The dictionary defines it as the “art of making motion pictures.” Okay, well that is true, but what else?
CINEMATOGRAPHY DEFINITION
What is cinematography?
Cinematography is the art and craft of making motion pictures by capturing a story visually. Though, technically, cinematography is the art and the science of recording light either electronically onto an image sensor or chemically onto film.
It is the creation of images you see on screen. A series of shots that form a cohesive narrative. Cinematography composes each shot, considering, where everything in frame demands attention.
WHAT CINEMATOGRAPHY CONSIDERS
- Camera placement
- Camera movement
- Shot composition
- Shot size
- Focus
- Lighting
While the director makes key decisions regarding the camera, the cinematographer actually makes it happen.
CINEMATOGRAPHY ELEMENTS
What does a cinematographer do?
A cinematographer or director of photography (shortened to DP or DoP) is the crew chief that presides over the camera and light crews on a film or video production.
They are involved throughout the entire production lifecycle and liaise closely with the director to create the images you see onscreen.
What elements do they consider?
Let's look to iconic director, Roger Deakins, to see what he prioritizes, and then jump into the technicalities.
Camera placement
Where they place the camera greatly affects how the audience reacts to the shot, and therefore the rest of the scene. It can have significant emotional impact or even convey character behavior.
For example, if the story calls for a character to be seen as rude, or ill mannered while out on a date, placing the camera close to the subject’s mouth while chewing would be effective.
Camera movement
Camera movement can heighten the emotion and suspense in a scene. Choose to move the camera with the characters and gain perspective. Keep the camera static, and now we’re separated from them, peering in. Watch our video on camera movement below.
Shot Composition
Composition refers to the way elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. Shot composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements to convey an intended message.
One visual element that must be arranged particularly is your actors. Where will they be in the frame? Watch our video below on blocking actors. It's also apart of our Filmmaking Techniques masterclass series.
Shot Size
How much of the scene is actually seen? Are we in a close-up watching a subject’s face change expression?
Maybe it’s an extreme close-up on a subject’s attire indicating to the audience that they should pay attention to this.
Focus
Part of a cinematographer’s job is to play with focus to emphasize different aspects of the story. A basic example of this is showing how intoxicated the character is by going in and out of focus.
Lighting
While there is a separate lighting person, cinematography demands this knowledge. After all, cinematography is what we see on-screen, and how well or horribly the scene is lit is a huge aspect of the craft.
That's a lot to consider! How can you plan all of these decisions, and execute on your vision?
(source: studiobinder.com)
02. Film Case Study
FILM CASE STUDIES
The Cinematography of Black Panther || Rachel Morrison || Case Study
This week we welcome Rachel Morrison to the channel. She has worked on such films as Mudbound, Dope and Fruitvale Station. In this episode we talk about what it was like working on Black Panther and working with Ryan Coogler.
The Cinematography of Black Panther || Rachel Morrison || Case Study
This week we welcome Rachel Morrison to the channel. She has worked on such films as Mudbound, Dope and Fruitvale Station. In this episode we talk about what it was like working on Black Panther and working with Ryan Coogler.
(source: cookeoptics.tv)
03. Structured Assignment
“To have real knowledge, one must understand the essence of things and not only their manifestations."
- Daniel Barenboim, conductor -
"The beautiful image today means nothing. It’s worth shit. In fact, it’s almost as if it has the opposite effect, because you’re just like everything else out there."
- Wim Wenders, writer/director/producer
The task this week is a simple one: individually or in pairs, go out into the city with a cinematographer’s eye and take a range of shots of the city that make the mundane beautiful but also ‘say something’ about what it is you are shooting. Your shots will be posted up on to YouTube and will form part of a larger piece of work similar to LONDON - A Cinematic Travel Film (see link below).
Each shot should be at least ten seconds long. You may chose to work through one theme and shoot shots in a different style, as per the Guardian’s Your Pictures page (see link below) or you may choose to explore a number of different themes. If you are stuck for themes, you might want to use some of these as prompts:
- Reflections
- Chance and accidents
- People
- Light and shade
- Movement
- Dirt
- Buying and selling
- Crowds (think about what the date is today!)
- Night and day
- Danger
Although you will only be expected to post three shots onto YouTube, we would expect you to take many more than three and choose the best.
This week’s Obstructions:
- The shots must all be taken on one day.
- The shots must all be taken within the Roads in Medan City.
Research Resources:
The Guardian Your Pictures
LONDON - A Cinematic Travel Film:
Uploading your work:
When you are finished upload it to YouTube and add it to the Class WhatsApp Group. We will be feeding back on as many as possible during next week’s session.
04. Evaluation
- Pay close attention to today's learning material, please enrich the material from different sources.
- If there are questions that arise, please ask the lecturer via group chat.
- Do a self-evaluation whether through learning today you can understand about Basic of Cinematography.
- Perform structured tasks that have been determined according to the guidelines.
- Prepare yourself to follow the next learning material.
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