Focus on: Cinematography

Cinematography

Etymologically breaks down to writing by movement. Like photography, light translates into visual information and meaning; however, apparent motion differentiates photography from cinematography.

Elements of Cinematography:

• Lighting

• Color (formally)/Contrast

• Film stocks & gauges

• Opticals (lenses, filters)

• Effects

• Shots*

Shots are defined according to…• Size/Distance

• Angle

• Content

• Movement

• Point of view

• ConventionsExamples to follow from each category…

Initially, size/distance…

Defining shots by size/distance…

• Long shot

• Full shot

• Medium shot

• Closeup

NB: Use ‘extreme’ sparingly

Defining shots . . .

• . . . By size/distance: a long shot often scans a wide area, providing information (literal and symbolic) including setting; it establishes parts of the narrative. (Signs)

Defining shots . . .

• . . . by size/distance: A full shot reveals a character from head-to-toe or a full object, often providing some contextual information (literal and symbolic) such as setting and action. (The Matrix Reloaded)

Defining shots . . .

• . . . by size/distance: a medium shots reveals a character from waist up or most but not all of an object. Meaning (literal and symbolic) is created by being this close to the object or character--not full and not so close. (Signs)

Defining shots . . .

• . . .by size/distance: a closeup reveals a character’s face or a detail of an object. Consider how these two close shots from XXX literally show us Diesel’s character and symbolically make us feel intimidated.

Compare sizes/distances…

Shots are defined according to…

• Size/Distance • Angle• Content• Movement• Point of view• Conventions

Defining shots by angle . . .

• High or Angle-down• Eye-level• Low or Angle-up• Bird’s eye• Aerial• Reverse• Oblique or canted frame

Defining shots . . .

• . . . By angle: High angle shot looks down on the subject, suggesting its literal shortness and symbolic weakness or inferiority. (Spy Kids II)

Defining shots . . .

• . . . By angle: eye-level shot looks a character ‘in the eye,’ suggesting respect and equality or simply neutrality.

Defining shots . . .

• . . . By angle: a low angle shot looks up to the subject, suggesting its literal height and symbolic power. (Blue Crush)

Compare these angles . . .

Defining shots by angle . . .

• Bird’s eye

• Aerial

• Reverse

• Oblique or canted frame

• Size/Distance • Angle • Content• Movement• Point of view• Conventions

Defining shots by content . . .

• One-shot

• Two-shot

NB: check conventions for overlaps

Defining shots by content . . .

• . . . a one-shot reveals one character

• . . . a two-shot reveals two characters(Frida)

• Size/Distance • Angle • Content • Movement• Point of view• Conventions

Defining shots by movement . . .

• Moving camera shots include dolly, tracking, crane, aerial, pan, tilt, etc.

• Movement within the frame includes horizontal movement, through the depth of the frame, etc.

• Size/Distance • Angle • Content • Movement • Point of view• Conventions

Defining shots by pov . . .

As in literature, film observes three points of view

• 3rd person (She, he, or it does it…)

• 1st person (I do it…)

• 2nd person (You do it… or, Do it!)

Unlike literature, film has more gradual shifts in point of view.

Defining shots…

• . . . by pov: 3rd person is the most common perspective in narrative film. The camera acts as an observer of some actor or action.(Collateral Damage)

Defining shots . . .

• . . . by pov: shifts occur in film from 3rd to 1st and back again relatively frequently. A 1st person shift places the viewer of the film in the place of a character. This can be gradual or complete.

Defining shots . . .

• . . . By pov: 2nd person directly addresses the viewer of the film. This often enables some theoretical level in the film.

• Size/Distance • Angle • Content • Movement • Point of view • Conventions

Defining shots by convention . . .

• Shot/countershot is one of the most significant and popular of the Hollywood tradition.

• Typically starts with full 2-shot;

• Cuts in to medium one-shot of ‘a’ character;

• Then, cuts to medium one-shot of ‘b’ character on opposite side.

Defining shots by convention . . .

• Shot/countershot (s/c or s/r)• Reaction shot• Establishing shot (inside/out editing)• Eyeline match (cut)

• Devil’s in details

NB: overlaps with content and other categories