Overview
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Learn how to use lights and your camera to enhance a story. Explore the fundamentals of cinematography, including how to adjust exposure, frame a shot, and light your actors.
Syllabus
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Introduction
- About this training series
- The assurance
- Why is cinematography important?
- About our camera department
- Understanding exposure
- Adjusting exposure with the aperture
- Adjusting the shutter speed
- Adjusting ISO
- Exposing for the subject
- Using a light meter
- Evaluating a histogram
- Choosing a frame rate
- Shooting slow motion footage
- The cinematography workflow
- Understanding shot sizes
- Using POV shots
- Understanding the line
- Crossing the line effectively
- Creating dimension
- Selecting the aspect ratio
- Leading the eye
- Cheating lights and talent
- The importance of framing
- Understanding the hierarchy of importance
- Utilizing thirds
- Centering the subject
- Using high and low angles
- Mastering three point lighting
- Deciding light motivation
- Hard light vs. Soft light
- Selecting a light temperature
- Avoiding "sourcey" light
- Using different types of light fixtures
- Realism vs. Beauty
- Using cinematography apps
- Mastering cinematic lighting
- Diffusing light
- Blocking and bouncing light
- Using scrims
- Working with natural light
- Shooting night scenes
- Making magic with fog
- Coloring light with gels
- Using common grip equipment
- Creating lens flares
- Preventing lens flares
- Practicing lighting etiquette
- Where should you place lights?
- Lighting from above
- Lighting from below
- Minimizing blemishes
- Making light flattering
- Using eye lights
- Making a silhouette
- Creating the film noir look
- Lighting dialog scenes
- Which camera should you use?
- Building the camera
- Supporting the camera
- Achieving critical focus
- White balancing the camera
- Setting up video village
- Using lenses to tell a story
- Working with wide lenses
- Working with long lenses
- Creating a shallow depth of field
- Using premium optics
- Racking focus
- Tilting and panning the camera
- Moving the camera
- Using a slider
- Adding emotion with camera moves
- Adding visual interest with camera moves
- Directing virtual camera moves in post
- Shooting the opening title sequence
- Critiquing the shot
- Changing the background
- Adding depth and changing lenses
- Rethinking the lighting
- Changing the tone with gels
- Fixing the mistakes in the assurance
- What went wrong with the faceoff shot?
- Recreating the faceoff shot
- Flagging the light
- Bouncing light onto the background
- Responsibilities of the DP
- Knowing the script
- Scouting locations
- Getting coverage
- Gear: Renting vs. Buying
- Working with the crew
- Choosing the recording format
- Perfecting the shot vs. Fixing it in post
- Stealing shots
- Shooting visual effects
- Improving your DP skills
- Previewing the next course
- Final thoughts
