VIDEOS ADV: CINEMATOGRAPHY CORE CONCEPTS

I found this playlist from a the YouTube channel wolfcrow.  It does a great job in helping explain a lot of the concepts we're going over in the Cinematography Unit.  Please take some time at home to review the videos in this playlist below.

ADV PROJECT: FILM NOIR

Learning Targets

• Students will learn about the art of crafting and shaping light.
• Studnets will demonstrate low key lighting and their understanding of controlling shadows.
• Students will demonstrate the common themes of the Film Noir movement in their own shot film.
• Students will demonstrate the creation of a mood using lighting, lenses and shadow.

Introduction

The culmination project in the cinematography unit is the crafting of a short film noir.  This project will demonstrate the groups understanding of shaping light, crafting shadows and demonstrating the themes of Film Noir.  Emphasis is placed on creating a video that shows off how well the group understandings the roll of lighting in storytelling.

Watch the following videos below to prepare you for this project.

The History of Film Noir



The Basics of Lighting for Film Noir




Requirements

1.  The film must be under 5 minutes in length.
2.  The film must use less than 4 characters.
3.  The film must use low key lighting.  All shots must be composed, lit and planned properly.
4.  The film must include the common themes of Film Noir. (Narration, Femme Fatale, Hard Boiled Detective, Crime, Nihilism, "The Corrupt System,"  Love Triangle, etc.)
5.  The film must entirely be shot in black and white.


Pre-Production

1.  Pitch - 20 Points - Craft an interesting pitch that center's around the following prompt:

A detective is hired by a mysterious stranger to solve a case.  After taking it, they find out that things are not what they seam.

2.  Outline -  20 Points - Fill in the details of the story to make it yours.  Consider what actors you plan on casting and locations you plan on using.

3.  Screenplay - 30 Points- Write a short Narrative screenplay using Adobe Story.  Length should be under 5 minutes, so under 5 pages.

4.  Storyboard - 20 Points - Storyboard out your film.

5.  Shot List - 20 Points - Prepare a list of what shots are needed to complete your project.

6.  Call Sheets  - 20 Points - Craft proper call sheets for every day that you shoot.


Titles

Be sure to take into consideration the unique title sequences of film noir.  They are often used to set the mood.

Check out this amazing list of titles from famous film noir:
http://annyas.com/screenshots/film-noir/

Post Production

Each student will edit their own version of the film.

1.  Build the following folder structure:  yourname_filmnoir --------->your name_filmnoir_raw

2.  You will import your footage into a project labeled:  yourname_filmnoir

3.  Import your footage onto a 1920x1080P 24P formatted timeline (this should match your shooting resolution)

4.  Locate appropriate rights free music tracks to edit into your film.

5.  Place a proper slate at the beginning of your film.

6.  When done, export your finished video as:  yourname_filmnoir and upload it to Jupiter.

Export Settings:  1920X1080P 24P

GEAR: RED ONE CINEMA CAMERA

TUTORIAL PART I




TUTORIAL PART II

ADV ASSIGNMENT: DOLLY ZOOM/JIB SCENE

Learning Targets

• Students will craft a short scene that motivates a dolly zoom.
• Students will demonstrate the power of movement in a scene.
• Students will demonstrate their technical and artistic understanding of the dolly zoom technique.

Introduction

Watch the following video on the art of the dolly zoom.

Read the following Filmmaker IQ Article on the Dolly Zoom:

http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/introduction-to-the-dolly-zoom/

The dolly zoom must be motivated.  It is a pretty extreme shot that makes a strong statement on screen.  You will work with your group to craft a short scene that motivates a dolly zoom movement within it.


Requirements

1.  The story will need a setup, conflict, climax and resolution.
2.  The video should be no longer than 2 minutes.
3.  The video should create a mood of:  suspense, fear, comedy.

Production

Film your scene in:  1920x1080P 24P

1.  You will utilize the following minimum equipment:

Sony EX3

Benro Tripod

Post Production

1.  Build the following folder structure:  yourname_dollyzoomassignment --------->your name_dollyzoomassignment_raw

2.  You will import your footage into a project labeled:  yourname_dollyzoomassignment

3.  Import your footage onto a 1920x1080P 24P formatted timeline (this should match your shooting resolution)

4.  Locate an appropriate rights free music track to edit your footage to to create a video experience.

5.  When done, export your finished video as:  yourname_dollyzoomassignment and upload it to Jupiter.

ADV ASSIGNMENT: COLOR IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Learning Targets

• Students will experiment with white balance on the camera.
• Students will experiment with the use of color in a scene.
• Students will use color to create a mood in a scene using props, location, costumes and time of day.

Introduction

Watch the following video on The History and Science of Color Temperature.





Requirements

1.  Student will plan and shoot a scene using the following prompt:

One individual carries a prop and delivers it to another individual sitting at a table.  The prop motivates an exchange between the two characters.  One of the characters leaves, or they both leave together.

2.  The scene must involve two characters.

3.  It is up to each group to determine:

• What the prop is.
• What the conflict is in the scene.
• What the resolution is.

4.  The group must communicate one of the following emotions using color in the scene:

• Sadness
• Anger
• Joy
• Mystery

5.  This can be communicated through:

• The location
• The time of day
• The costumes
• The prop
• The white balance
• The final color correction

6.  This video will not need dialog created.  Try to craft the scene to unfold without any dialog.

7.  Pick an appropriate rights free music track to edit this too.

Production

Film your scene in:  1920x1080P 24P

1.  You will utilize the following minimum equipment:

Sony EX3

Benro Tripod

Post Production

1.  Build the following folder structure:  yourname_colorassignment --------->your name_colorassignment_raw

2.  You will import your footage into a project labeled:  yourname_colorassignment

3.  Import your footage onto a 1920x1080P 24P formatted timeline (this should match your shooting resolution)

4.  Locate an appropriate rights free music track to edit your footage to to create a video experience.

5.  When done, export your finished video as:  yourname_colorassignment and upload it to Jupiter.


Color Correction in Premiere Pro CC

This video will walk you through the lumetri color correction panel in Adobe Premiere.

BLOG QUESTION ADV: COLOR SUBSAMPLING

Watch the following Filmmaker IQ lecture on color in digital filmmaking.  Stop at 10:33.



Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1.  What are three ways that the video mentions color can enhance filmmaking?
2.  What is color sub sampling?  What are the drawbacks or benefits of 8 bit color?  What are the drawbacks or benefits of 10 bit color?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: FILMMAKER IQ COLOR P. 2

Watch the following Filmmaker IQ lecture on color.  Starting at 9:23:



Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1.  What led to technicolor taking over color filmmaking?  What films really drove the adoption of the process?
2.  How did Eastman color affect the development of color filmmaking?  What were some of it's pro's?  What were some of it's con's?

ADV ASSIGNMENT: EXPLORING FRAME RATES & SHUTTER SPEED

Learning Targets

• Students will explore over cranking the camera to film slow motion shots.
• Students will explore under cranking the camera to film time lapse shots.
• Students will explore high shutter speeds while filming fast moving objects.
• Students will explore slow shutter speeds while filming in low light.

Introduction

Overcranking, undercranking and shutter speed are powerful technical tools that allow filmmakers to change the audiences perceptions of time.

Here are some examples:

Workflow

PreProduction

Watch the following tutorial video's to prepare for your shoot.


Shoot Tamelapse with XDCAM Cameras




Slow Shutter Recording (Night)




Production

Film your scene in:  1920x1080P 24P

1.  You will utilize the following minimum equipment:

Sony EX3

Benro Tripod

Doorway Dolly/Tripod Dolly (Depending on shots)

2.  You will go out into the world and film in a location that has people.  A park, downtown, a festival, etc.  You will use the over and under cranking feature of the camera to film slow motion and time lapse shots of the people walking around or doing their thing.

3.  Be aware that time-lapse shots take time.  you will need to set the camera properly and wait for 10+ mins to collect enough footage!

4.  Try to shoot people or objects in motion when filming slow motion.

Post Production

1.  Build the following folder structure:  yourname_framerateassignment --------->your name_framerateassignment_raw

2.  You will import your footage into a project labeled:  yourname_framerateassignment

3.  Import your footage onto a 1920x1080P 24P formatted timeline (this should match your shooting resolution)

4.  Locate an appropriate rights free music track to edit your footage to to create a video experience.

5.  When done, export your finished video as:  yourname_framerateassignment and upload it to Jupiter.

BLOG QUESTION ADV: THE FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF COLOR IN SILENT FILM

Read the following article on the forgotten history of color in silent film:

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/beyond-black-and-white-the-forgotten-history-of-color-silent-films/396785/

Write an in depth reflection on what you learned from reading this article.  Use the following prompt:

1.  Why do you think modern day people perceive early film as ONLY black and white?  What do you think has led to this perception?  How do you think color was percieved by audinces back in the dawn of cinema?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: THE HISTORY OF COLOR FILM P. 1

Watch the following Filmmaker IQ lecture on frame rates.  Stop at 6:04


Answer the following questions in an in depth - paragraph:

1.  What is color?  What principle did James Clerk Maxwell discover?

2.  How was color used in early filmmaking?  What were the two major types of colorizing film?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: FILMMAKER IQ - FRAME RATES P. 2

Watch the following Filmmaker IQ lecture on frame rates.  Starting at 6:04 through till the end:



Answer the following questions in 2 in depth - paragraphs:

1.  What were tee reasons why 60 frame interlaced chosen for over the air broadcasting?  How did the introduction of color factor in?

2.  How do you convert a film to television?  What is 3:2 pull down?

ADV ASSIGNMENT: ASPECT RATIOS

Learning Targets

• Students will experiment by filming the same scene from different aspect ratio's.
• Students will demonstrate the unique feeling of each aspect ratio effectively.
• The differences between each aspect ratio will be clearly felt by the audience by the students framing and choose of shots.

The history of filmmaking is littered with a wide variety of aspect ratio's ranging from 4:3 to 16:9.  Students will experiment by filming one scene multiple times framing for different aspect ratio's.

Composition for Widescreen Aspect Ratio's

The Changing Shape of Cinema:  The History of Aspect Ratio's

Prior to starting the assignment, review the following video and lesson on Filmmakeriq.com:

http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-changing-shape-of-cinema-the-history-of-aspect-ratio/

Production

Film your scene in:  1920x1080P 24P

1.  You will utilize the following minimum equipment:

Sony EX3

Benro Tripod

SmallHD monitor

Doorway Dolly/Tripod Dolly (Depending on shots)

2.  You will film a scene where:

Two characters have some sort of conflict and must solve it by having an old western stand off.  Suspense builds, one character guns down the other character and the winner walks away alive.

3.  You must shoot the same scene multiple times, framing for each of the following aspect ratio's:

1.33:1 (4x3)

1.85:1

2.35:1

1.77:1 (16x9)

Use the framing guides on the Small HD monitor in order to frame your shots correctly.  Warning:  you will need to be aware that different parts of the image will be cut off in post!

Post Production

1.  Build the following folder structure:  yourname_aspectratioassignment --------->your name_aspectratioassignment_raw

2.  You will import your footage into a project labeled:  yourname_aspectratioassignment

3.  Import your footage onto a 1920x1080P 24P formatted timeline (this should match your shooting resolution)

4.  Edit the best takes into the timeline to create your entire complete scene.

5.  Watch the following video to figure out how to matte out your footage to create the different aspect ratio's:

6.  You should have 4 different versions of the scene on the timeline.

7.  Place text labels on each stating what aspect ratio they are:

1.33:1

1.85:1

2.35:1

1.77:1

8.  Select appropriate rights free standoff music and edit into the timeline.

9.  Export the video as 1920X1080P 24P.

10.  Name your clip:  yourname_aspectratioassignment

BLOG QUESTION ADV: FILMMAKER IQ - FRAME RATES P. 1

Watch the following Filmmaker IQ lecture on frame rates.  Stop at 6:04



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYjFEp9Yx0&index=19&list=PLzTcf1aKEQvzL0Mrcwrb93RSUHHzcDEUp&t=19s

Answer the following question in an in depth - paragraph:

1.  What were three reasons why 24 frames per second chosen as the modern standard frame rate for filmmaking?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: OVER AND UNDER CRANKING YOUR CAMERA

Watch the following video on over and undercranking your camera:



After watching it answer the following questions in an in depth paragraph.

1.  Think back on what you've learned about filmmaking.  What is overcranking the camera?  What does it do?  How is it done?

2.  What does undercranking the cmaera do?  How is this done?
How does this affect the image artistically?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: SHUTTER SPEED VS. FRAME RATE

Watch the following video on frame rate:


Frame Rate vs. Shutter Speed from Story & Heart on Vimeo.

After watching it answer the following questions in an in depth paragraph.

1.  Define what shutter speed is and what frame rate is.
2.  What is frame rates relationship with shutter speed?  How do each affect the image?
3.  How could you use these principles to artistically affect your images going forward?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: ASPECT RATIO

Watch the following video on aspect ratio:



After watching it answer the following questions in an in depth paragraph.

1.  What is pan and scan?  Why was it created?  How does it affect a film when it's transferred from the theatre to home video?  In your own words explain 3 examples from the video on how pan and scan changes what the filmmakers intended.

BLOG QUESTION ADV: ASPECT RATIO'S

Watch the following video:



After watching it answer the following questions in an in depth paragraph.

1.  What are the major differences between the different aspect ratio's?
2.  How does aspect ratio affect what the audience experiences in a film?
3.  How do filmmakers use these differences to craft their films?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: WHAT IS CINEMATOGRAPHY?

Watch the following video:



After watching it answer the following questions in an in depth paragraph.

How is cinematography like a language?  What are three techniques of visual language that you realized while watching this video?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: TV SHOW FINISHED?

Now that you've completed the first episodes of the TV show (or should have.)  What part of it are you most proud of?  Why or why not?

What were some major mistakes that were made?
How can you improve the process in the future?
What are two major things that you learned while creating this TV show?

BLOG QUESTION ADV: ACTE PSA STATUS

Read the following article with it's embedded links that explain what CTE is:

https://www.acteonline.org/cte/#.WAvdwJMrJdA

Where are you on your ACTE PSA?  How do you plan on completing it by the due date?  How are you going to make it effective and connect with what CTE's goals and mission are?