Summary
Role
Cinematographer
Intention (SMART Goal)
By March 24, as a part of my film team filling the role of cinematographer, I will have controlled the movements of all subjects for visual story structure to be able to complete a pitch scene for pre-production for the next session, which will be creating the film we pitch.
Pre-Production – Inquiry
Leader in the Field
Caleb Deschanel: an American cinematographer and director who has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards, all for cinematography. He started out as a yearbook photographer, and studied the power of a single frame. His use of color and spacial story structure are some of his biggest strengths. “Most people think of cinematographers as choosing subjects of an epic nature to show off what they do – big, sweeping images of war or pageantry.” He took 8 years off of making films to be with his family, and in that time he shot commercials. in this, he got really good at shooting quick short scenes packed with lots of information.
Training Source
- Wide Shot: shows the subject’s whole body, meant to make them look smaller or out of power
- High Angle: loss of power, shows weakness
- Body Language: establishes subject’s true feelings and shows power dynamic between subjects
- Color and Props: creates tone and mood, controls how the scene impacts the viewer and can reflect the subject’s emotional state
- Framing: useful to keep the audience in the scene and in the subject’s head
- Development of Angles (keeping power): shows how the power dynamics change over the course of the scene
- Background: used to show the subject’s emotional state
- Development of Angles (gaining power): shows how the power dynamics change over the course of the scene
- Focus: shows which subject is more important
- Development of Cinematic Elements: overall scene and techniques together develop the story and character
Project Timeline
- research mise-en-scene and use it throughout film
- create the storyboard with director
- create a shot list including intended lenses, lengths, duration, etc.
- choose filming locations
- plan lighting and blocking for locations
- plan climax scene
- create advanced storyboard
- check out equipment
- film
- organize shots in team drive