Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
Film Studies
Chinese International School
Y10 MYP
2009-2010
What is Cinematography?
What is Cinematography?
The art and technique of motion
picture photography, including
both the shooting and
developing of film.
A cinematographer’s concerns?
Film Stock
Film Gauge
Colour
Lighting
Camera Lenses
Camera distances, angles & movements
(techniques)
Special effects
Film Stock
Unexposed and unprocessed motion-
picture film
Slow film stock – detailed image
Fast film speed – documentary feel
Influences the film’s finished look,
including: - Sharpness of detail
- Range of light & shadow
- Quality of colour
Film Stock
Fast film stock produces a gritty, Slow film stock produces a sharper,
monochromatic look. more detailed effect.
From ‘Wo De Fu Qin, Mu Qin’ (‘The Road Home’), Zhang
From ‘Wo De Fu Qin, Mu Qin’ (‘The Road Home’),
Yimou, 1999
Zhang Yimou, 1999
Film Gauge (width)
The wider the film gauge the sharper the
projected image
Most common gauge is 35mm;
Films are sometimes shot on 16mm and
enlarged onto 35mm film to enhance
grainy effect.
Film Gauge
‘Yi Ge Dou Bu Neng Shao’ (‘Not One Less’) Zhang Yimou, ‘Shi Mian Mai Fu’ (‘House of Flying Daggers’ Zhang Yimou, 2004
1999
Colour
Colour associations vary from culture to culture;
A colour’s impact depends on context – where
and how colour is used;
In most societies, reds, oranges & yellows = hot,
dangerous, assertive. Greens, blues, violets =
control, reason, sadness, melancholy;
Colour can be saturated (intense, vivid) or
desaturated (muted, dull).
Colour
Reds, oranges & yellows = hot, dangerous, Greens, blues, violets = control, reason, sadness,
assertive melancholy;
‘Ying Xiong’ (‘Hero’), Zhang Yimou, 2002 ‘Ying Xiong’ (‘Hero’), Zhang Yimou, 2002
Lighting
There are 2 types of light:
- Hard – generally unflattering – focused
spotlight / midday sunlight;
- Soft – flattering – reflects off a surface /
magic hour ( 20 minutes before
dawn and 20 mins after sunset)
Lighting
Hard lighting highlights Soft lighting softens border between light and shadow
shadows and flaws
‘Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia’ (‘Curse of the Golden Flower’) 2007
High-key lighting
‘Yao Yao Yao, Yao dao Wai Po Qiu’ (‘Shanghai Triad’) 1995
Lenses
3 basic types of lenses:
- Wide angle (e.g. 28mm on 35mm) Emphasizes
distances, deep focus, speed up movement to &
from camera;
- Normal (e.g. 50mm on 35mm)
What the eye would see
- Telephoto (e.g. 200mm on 35mm)
Planes appear closer, shallow focus, slow down
movement to & from camera.
Lenses
Wide-angle lens emphasizes distances because it causes all planes
to appear farther away from the camera.
‘Shi Mian Mai Fu’ (‘House of Flying Daggers’), Zhang Yimou, 2004
‘Qian Li Zou Dan Qi’ (‘Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles’), 2005 Telephoto lens creates shallow focus.
‘Da hong Deng Long Gao Gao Gua’ (‘Raise the Red Lantern’) 1991
Focus
Deep focus – wide angle lens or small
lens aperture
Rule of thirds: Note how the horizon falls close to the Here, tthe horizon falls close to the top grid line. The figures
bottom grid line, and how the dark areas are in the left third, are are in the left third, the shops and pavement in the right
the overexposed in the right third. third.