Cinematography Techniques PDF

Cinematography: the art and technology of motion-picture photography. Film Making or Video Making 1. Camera Framing Size (Person) - Extreme Close-up, Close-up, Medium Close-up, Medium Shot, Cowboy Shot, Medium Full Shot, Full Shot 2. Camera Framing Figures (Two or more people) – Single, 2-Shot Tw...

Cinematography: the art and technology of motion-picture photography. Film Making or Video Making 1. Camera Framing Size (Person) - Extreme Close-up, Close-up, Medium Close-up, Medium Shot, Cowboy Shot, Medium Full Shot, Full Shot 2. Camera Framing Figures (Two or more people) – Single, 2-Shot Two Shots can be(Two different shot combined in 1 frame) , 3-Shot, 4-Shot, 5-Shot and Crowd Shot 3. Camera Shots (Background to Person, vice versa) – Extreme Long/Wide Shot, Long/Wide Shot, Medium Shot, Full Body Shot, and Close-Up Shot 4. Camera Angles –Over the Shoulder Shot, Over the Hip Shot, Knee Level Shot, Ground Level Shot, High Angle Shot, Low-Angle Shot, Overhead Shot, Dutch-Tilt Shot, Point of View Shot, & Insert Shot (Looking at Cellphone, Reading a book or a letter) 5. Camera Movement – Zoom (in and out), Dolly (in and out),Tilt (from Up to Down or Down to Up), Crane (Zipline type, higher to lower), Pan (Cameraman stays in place- moving camera from left to right, vice versa)Track (Cameraman following the movement/steps of the subject) 6. Camera Lighting – Dim/Bright and Color Theme ` Camera Framing is the placement and position of the subjects in your shots. Considerations when camera framing a shot: 1. Size — the size of your subject has a direct relationship to the importance of that subject 2. Relationships — when we see more than one character in a shot, we are meant to acknowledge their relationship (romantic, contentious, etc.) 3. Balance — a "balanced" frame includes elements on the left and right side of the frame Camera Framing Size 1. Extreme Close-up (ECU) An extreme close-up shot frames a subject very closely, often so much so that the outer portions of the subject are cut off by the edges of the frame. On an actor, this is commonly used to show specific portions of the body, like the face or hip, but it can go closer to show only an actor’s mouth, or even a single eye. Why do directors use extreme close-up shots? To focus in on a specific portion of the subject. To signal an important sensory moment in a scene. To communicate tiny details too small to notice. Camera Framing Size 2. Close-up (CU) A close-up shot is a photograph or movie shot taken of a subject or object at close range intended to show greater detail to the viewer. If the subject is a person, the close-up starts at the neck above shoulders and ends at the top of the head. Why do directors use close-up shots? Generate strong emotions Signal something important Show an actors facial expressions Camera Framing Size 3. Medium Close-up (MCU) A medium close-up shot (or MCU) is a shot that frames the subject from just above their head down to about midway of upper torso. The idea of a medium close-up shot is that you can still easily register the actor's emotions and facial expressions while also retaining some of the background. Why do directors use medium close-up shots? To capture the actor's performance So the background around the subject is included For a "neutral" shot option within standard coverage Camera Framing Size 4. Medium Shot (MS) A medium shot (also referred to as MS), or waist shot is captured at a medium distance from the subject. It is used for dialogue scenes, but also depict body language and more of the setting. Oftentimes it will frame multiple subjects as well as a portion of the background and space in general. Why do directors use medium shots? Show important movement or action, including their costumes and comedic performances where we need to see the body language of a character. Allows to focus on the whole instead of the individual. Frame groups of people, as well as background imagery and sets that are relevant to the scene. Camera Framing Size 5. Cowboy Shot (CS) the cowboy shot is a shot framed from the face of an actor down to just above the knee, which makes it so you can see both the holstered gun of the cowboy as well a his face. The shot was commonly used in westerns for this reason. Why do directors use cowboy shot? For signaling heroism and confidence While remaining close enough to register emotion And to show critical action that takes place near the hip Camera Framing Size 6. Medium Full Shot (MFS) is a shot that frames a character around the knees and up. This shot size falls between a normal medium shot and a full shot. The medium full shot is also referred to as a ¾ shot or a cowboy shot due to how often it is used to include their guns in the frame. Why do directors use medium full shot? Capturing emotion and body language Framing multiple subjects and characters Show character and setting Camera Framing Size 7. Full Shot (FS) A full shot is a type of camera shot in which a character’s entire body reaches from the top of the frame to the bottom of the frame. In a full shot, a character is framed from head to toe. These shots allow the audience to see the emotions on a character's face while simultaneously seeing their physicality, body language, and actions. A full shot can also capture the setting and context of a character and can be used with one or more characters. Why do directors use full shot? Show a character’s actions Establish setting and context Display a character’s wardrobe Show body language between characters Camera Framing Figures Camera Shots Extreme Long / Wide (ELS/EWS) or Establishing Shot Used to show the subject from a distance, or the area in which the scene is taking place. This type of shot is particularly useful for establishing a scene in terms of time and place, as well as a character’s physical or emotional relationship to the environment and elements within it. The character doesn’t necessarily have to be viewable in this shot. Why do directors use extreme long/wide shot?  It draws attention to the surroundings to see where it was.  To show the size of a building or the vastness of a landscape.  If a single character appears as a small figure, it emphasize loneliness or lostness.  Two characters standing far away from each other magnifies the distance between them. Camera Shots 2. Long / Wide (LS/WS) Wide shot: Shows the subject from top to bottom; for a person, this would be head to toes, though not necessarily filling the frame. The entire subject appears in the shot, along with some of the surrounding environment. A wide shot is filmed close enough to emphasize the actor, but far enough away to show the actor’s location. You can see their whole body within the frame, with enough space surrounding them to indicate the setting. Why do directors use long/wide shot? The character is more focus than its surroundings. Can be captured by any type of camera or lens Often shot using wide angle lens Camera Angles - marks the specific location at which the movie camera or video camera is placed to take a shot. A scene may be shot from several camera angles simultaneously. This will give a different experience and sometimes emotion. Camera Angles 1. Over the Shoulder Shot Used for character dialogue and interactions, when the camera is positioned behind one character and facing another, so the one character's shoulder and back face the audience. Create intimacy in a conversation between two characters to track who is discussing whom particulary in a group conversation Camera Angles 2. Over the Hip Shot Used when one character is sitting while the other is standing, this shot connects the two characters and implies power imbalance. The character is more focus than its surroundings. Camera Angles 3. Knee-Level Shot This is when your camera height is about as low as your subject’s knees. They can emphasize a character’s superiority if paired with a low angle. focus on characters walking Camera Angles 3. Knee-Level Shot This is when your camera height is about as low as your subject’s knees. They can emphasize a character’s superiority if paired with a low angle. focus on characters walking Camera Angles 4. Ground Level Shot it captures what is in the frame at ground level, that is, the feet, or maybe the character lying on the ground. It allows you to walk a character through a scene without revealing his face or identity, which helps build suspense and intrigue in the film. Camera Angles 5. High Angle Shot A high angle shot is when the camera looks down on the character or subject from an elevated perspective. This is usually achieved by placing the camera higher than the subject and then angling it down on them.It allows you to walk a character through a scene without revealing his face or identity, which helps build suspense and intrigue in the film. Camera Angles 6. Over the head Shot also known as bird's eye view, is when the camera is placed directly above the subject. It's somewhere around a 90-degree angle above the scene taking place. Camera Angles 7. Low Angle Shot a low-angle shot is a shot from a camera angle positioned anywhere below the eye line, pointing upward. often used to convey power, and depending on your subject, that power can be a good thing or a bad thing. Camera Angles 8. Dutch-Tilt Shot Dutch angle shots (aka canted angles) to subtly (or sometimes very overtly) cause their audiences to feel disconnected and uneasy. signals that something is wrong, unsettled, or disorientating. Camera Angles 9. Point of View (POV) Shot Point of view shot is a film angle that shows what a character is looking at. In other words, the camera acts as the eyes of a character and the audience sees what they see. Camera Angles 10. Insert Shot An insert shot represents a shot that is captured with the intended purpose of directing the audience's attention to a specific detail within the scene. Camera Movement- is a filmmaking technique that describes how a camera moves about to help enhance a story. Camera Movement 1. Zoom Gives the impression of moving closer or further away from the subject. It can be used effectively to magnify a certain focus point in the camera frame. Camera Movement 2. Dolly A natural way the camera moves toward or away from the subject you're shooting. helps build drama or tension in a scene or simply some significance to the subject it’s moving in on. Camera Movement 3. Tracking A tracking shot is any shot that includes a moving camera that follows the subject or character wherever it goes. Walking or running Camera Movement 4. Pan A pan shot is a horizontal movement in which the camera moves right to left (or vice versa) while the camera is fixed in one location. Camera Movement 5. Tilt A tilt shot is a technique in which the camera stays in a fixed position but rotates up/down in a vertical plane. Tilting the camera results in a motion similar to someone raising or lowering their head to look up or down. Types of Videos in the Media 1. Films/Cinema Media Convergence Media convergence transforms established industries, services, and work practices and enables entirely new forms of content to emerge. Is a result of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the Internet. Traditional to New Media (Internet) Subscription-based ex. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Go, Viu , 2. TV Series/Programs – episodes 3. Video Blogging (Vlog) – personal experience or lifestyle 4. Music Video 5. Tutorials 7. Short Video or Reels 8. Streamers or Game-play Video 9. Animation 10. Compilation 11. News 12. Ads Film/TV Program Genres 1. Action 2. Romance 3. Comedy 4. Drama 5. Horror/Suspense/Thriller 6. Adventure 7. Animation 8. Fantasy 9. Sci-Fi 10. Family/Kids 11. Real life 12. Documentary 13. Explicit/Adult