TASK 1
Please submit 3-4 screenshots of images from your shoot into this slideshow.
TASK 2
Describe the techniques being used and analyse what meaning is made or could be made in the slide of another student.
Category: Cinematographer
Advanced Cinematography
The creative intention for the week
‘To develop my cinematography skills and practice advanced techniques which can be used for expressive meaning in film.’
Composition in Storytelling
Session 1 – Filming with Canon DSLR cameras
Menu & Settings
- Setting the White Balance
- Grid display
- rule of thirds / composition
- Auto and Manual Focus
- Recording Mode – (movie rec size)
- 50 fps, 1280×720 (frames per second / resolution)
- ISO (light sensitivity)
- darker environment – higher light sensitivity & ISO number
- lighter environment – lower light sensitivity & ISO number
- Aperture (quantity of light coming into the lens)
- low number (eg F1.8 = larger amount of light let in = shallow depth of field)
- high number (eg F8 = less light let in = deeper focus)
Session 2 & 3 – Play Time
Choose a minimum of four techniques to research and practice this week. Two from each list:
List 1
- Depth of Field & Pulling Focus
- The Trombone Shot
- Bokeh
List 2
- The Rule of Thirds
- Frames within the Frame
- Symmetry & Leading Lines
- High Contrast Lighting (Low Key)
- The Quadrant System
You will need a clear example of what you’re trying to achieve and also a tutorial video or web page on how to achieve it practically.
For each technique you should aim for either a shot of about 10-15 seconds or two to three different shorter examples of the same technique being used in different ways.
Our Class Research on Composition in Film
Session 4 The Edit (no less than 30 seconds)
- Use WeVideo to edit.
- Upload your footage
- Create a montage of cinematography techniques,
- Name the kit / technique in a caption at the start.
- At the end use a caption to suggest a potential meaning or impact of the technique on the audience
Reflective Journal
Inquiry
A statement on the significance of composition in creating expressive meaning and how this can contribute to meaning / ideas.
A summary of two of the four techniques you have used, how they can be used to express meaning. How are these achieved in practical terms?
Take a copy of this slideshow template.
Action
A description of how you used the camera during filming in order to achieve the effects you selected in the edit.
Reflection
Screenshots of your various (two) experiments with composition. This will have been exported from WeVideo and downloaded to your drive (directly). The videos should include captions of the technique that you employed.
A reflection on how you shots evoke meaning with a commentary on how this can be used effectively in future projects (your horror film)
Film Sequence – Preproduction
The Production Roles:
- Director & Cinematographer
- Director & Editor
Planning The Sequence
A well planned shoot is more likely to be an effective shoot.
In your groups, please complete the following planning documents ahead of the shoot tomorrow:
- A storyboard
- A shot list
- A character design for each character (both)
- A kit check (All)
Advanced Cinematography
INQUIRY
The Rules of Composition in Cinematography are described and exemplified in this video:
Class Presentation on Composition in Film
Reflective journal
Embed this slideshow in your reflective journal as a new post called Advanced Cinematography.
Select 3 frames from one or more of the cinematographers in the video below and describe the composition in those selected frames:
Great Cinematographers
Example
Cinematographer (Freddie Young)
The frame uses the rule of thirds and lead space. Places the dead soldier on the point of interest and the expanse of frozen desolation ahead of him. The barbed wire acts as leading lines and the angles posts serve to frame shot.
Montage Filming and Editing
Inquiry.
What’s a montage and what meaning does it communicate?
Examples
This is the opening sequence of Memento (2000) Nolan which creates a sense of the event and climaxes in a sudden narrative disruption.
Yarchen Gar (2018) Filippo Chiesa, is a short film, which is an extended montage of place.
Here’s Rocky (1976) Avildsen, which compresses time to show development of a character.
A Montage to Define Montage
Task
Create a montage which compresses time and communicates a sense of atmosphere.
- A frantic and stressful school day.
The Rules
- The montage should last 30-40 seconds.
- It should contain at least 12 different (beautifully composed shots) some of which may be repeated in the edit.
- The montage should communicate a clear meaning (what’s going on) and clear atmosphere (tone or feel).
- There should be a clear sense of time passing and have a clear beginning and end, which fades out to black (to make it seem like more time has passed).
Different Roles
Screenwriter (Storyboard Artist)- Cinematographer / Director
- Editor
To complete this tasks effectively you’re going to have to think carefully about how the edit is going to look in the end and ensure that you film all the shots you need. This means planning your sequence. Do do this we are going to use a screenwriting tool called…
The Storyboard
Here is a storyboard template that is similar layout to the professional one above.
Here is a document which explains how to design a storyboard.
You should also reflect on it’s usefulness as a pre-production planning / visualisation tool.
Production
You will be put in pairs once you have completed your storyboard and will have a lesson to shoot your footage, whilst one person acts and the other films.
When you are the cinematographer you should ensure that each shot is well composed. Also you should ensure the following:
- All shots are well lit
- All shots are in focus
- You get a variety of shot types.
Post Production
When you are editor, you will be responsible for:
- Compiling the basic montage.
- Applying filters and transitions to the edit which contribute to the overall tone
- Coordinating with the sound designer to apply their sound to the sequence.
Lighting and Colour
Lighting
Using Three Point Lighting in a Studio.
Colour
Portfolio Page
Inquiry
Use an image and words to describe three point lighting system.
Describe some of the techniques that gaffers and best boys use to paint with light: Flags, gobos, diffusers, reflectors, gels (colours)
Find images / clips which use:
- High-key lighting
- Low-key lighting
- Expressive colour
Action
Creative intention: ‘Film a game of chess in which you use lighting to create a dangerous game.’
This should include the following shots:
- Wide shot
- Shot reverse shot of the two players
- Close ups of chess moves
- Reaction shots as the players think / react to their opponent.
You may use any of the lighting equipment in the lecture theatre to create an atmosphere.
Edit your clips together in WeVideo and add some suitable copyright free music from WeVideo library.
Reflection
Insert the finished video.
Comment on the lighting techniques you used to create atmosphere in the scene and discuss what worked well and what you would do differently next time.
Cinematography (Moving the Camera)
So in this lesson you are going to need to move the camera, whilst filming.
Creative Intention:
To explore how camera movement can be used to creating meaning in film
So, smoothly does it…here is your list of shots for today…
| Shot No | Shot Size | Camera Movement | Descriptions |
| 1 | MLS | Pan | Character walks into frame and pan to follow through a door, keep lead space. |
| 2 | MCU (High Angle) | Tilt | Character sits down (slow and nervous) camera tilt follows |
| 3 | MS | Crab | Character leans against wall looking bored. Start and end with character out of frame. |
| 4 | MCU to LS | Dolly / Track Out | Character sits on wall, looking anxious |
| 5 | LS to MCU | Dolly / Track In | Character sits on wall, looking relaxed |
| 6 | LS to MCU | Zoom In | Character sits on wall, looking confused |
| 7 | MCU | Ped Down | Parked Car / Truck |
| 8 | LS | Roll | Person staggers from one side of corridor to another, along with camera roll. |
| 9 | CU (low angle) – ELS (high angle) | Crane | Character sitting in corner, looks off frame and then down at the ground, when head down start crane. |
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Watch these two videos as your inquiry for camera movement.
- Watch these videos.
- Start working on the inquiry section of your camera movement portfolio page
Cinematography (Basic Composition)
Framing (distance)
Your mission for today’s lesson is to direct and shoot the following images. For this you will have to alternate taking the images and being the subject for your partner.
You will have to take on the role of director and of cinematographer to ensure you get the shots you need.
Once you have completed your mission you should return to the classroom where you will upload your treasure to your masters computer (teachers’ machine D Drive). You then need to collate the data.
This message will self destruct in…(name the film…?)
| Shot No | Shot Size | Camera Movement | Descriptions |
| 1 | MS | Static | Back to camera, character bored |
| 2 | Wide angle | Static | The front of the SFC or Main School Entrance |
| 3 | MCU (Low Angle) | Static | Traffic sign or door |
| 4 | ELS | Static | Character sits on a step (relaxed) |
| 5 | LS (Canted Angle) to MCU | Static | Character walks towards camera (confident) |
| 6 | ECU | Static | Eyes look nervously off to one side |
| 7 | CU | Static | In profile character looks thoughtful |
| 8 | MLS (High Angle) | Static | Character stand waits outside door (nervous) |
| 9 | Over the shoulder to LS | Static | See the shoulder and head – object in background |
Independent Study
Here is a follow up video for you to watch on another 5 best shots of all time:
Independent study.
Continue your cinematography collage of different shots from this video and label them with the correct shot type. This collage should be embedded into your Reflective Journal Page on Cinematography
Cinematography 101
How can a film camera make meaning?
Visual Glossary of Basic Camera Techniques
The Best Shots of All Time Part 1.
A great commentary on some amazing shots and the meaning that they create.
Independent Study
Using Google slides, start a collage of different shots from this video and label them with the correct shot type & the meaning implied (the video has loads of ideas for this). You will be adding to this collage as the lessons on camera and cinematography progress.