Creating a Short Film: 07 Cinematography

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.

Introduction

• About this training series
• The assurance
• Why is cinematography important?
• About our camera department

1. Cinematography Basics

• 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

2. Setting Up the Shot

• 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

3. Framing the Shot

• The importance of framing
• Understanding the hierarchy of importance
• Utilizing thirds
• Centering the subject
• Using high and low angles

4. Lighting in Theory

• 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

5. Lighting in Practice

• 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

6. Lighting People

• 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

7. Camera Basics

• Which camera should you use?
• Building the camera
• Supporting the camera
• Achieving critical focus
• White balancing the camera
• Setting up video village

8. Telling the Story with Lenses

• 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

9. Moving the Camera

• 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

10. Creating Cinematic Shots

• Critiquing the shot
• Changing the background
• Adding depth and changing lenses
• Rethinking the lighting
• Changing the tone with gels

11. Fixing Mistakes

• 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

12. Working as DP

• 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

Conclusion

• Improving your DP skills
• Previewing the next course
• Final thoughts