Focus on Cinematography Cinematography Etymologically breaks down to

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 Conventions Examples 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: eyelevel 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 • 3 rd person (She, or it does it…) • 1 st person (I do it…) • 2 nd person (You do it… or, Do it!) Unlike literature, film has more gradual shifts in point of view.

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

Defining shots. . . • . . . By pov: 2 nd 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 oneshot of ‘a’ character; • Then, cuts to medium oneshot 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