Organised by The London Film School
The cinematographer is one of the key creative individuals in the filmmaking process, and is certainly the craftsperson whose work audiences are most aware of. The cinematographer’s imprint is on every frame. They can elevate a film beyond its script and subject.
Cinematography is much more than making pretty pictures and beautiful lighting. It has a ‘language’, and it’s about shooting films in a relevant way, in order to serve and express the script. In a larger crew, the cinematographer is the Director of Photography, managing a large camera department and working to schedule and budget. Still, the task is the same: to create a work of visual clarity and power.
This 3-day workshop will give an introduction to the art of cinematography, with a particular emphasis on lighting, lenses, movement, staging and working as a unit.
COURSE OUTLINE
DAY ONE
The day will start with an introduction to the process of visualisation – script to screen.
It will cover:
- Working as a unit (department roles)
- Light, lenses, exposure control
- Composition
- Staging – choreographing action for the camera
The afternoon will consist of a practical exercise focusing on lighting strategies, lighting for movement, staging action for camera, and lens characteristics & choices.
DAY TWO
The group will be divided into two units of five: Groups A & B. Each group will be offered a choice of scene from selected films. The exercise is to choose and then replicate that scene, creating the same “look” – mood and atmosphere. Group A shoots in the morning. Group B shoots in the afternoon.
DAY THREE
Working altogether (as a unit of 10), the group will shoot one film they have scripted with professional actors. Using a maximum of 10 shots, the roles will be rotated per shot (director, DOP, 1st AC, Grip, etc.).
The workshop will conclude with a review and discussion of all the scenes.
The workshop is suitable for people with some basic knowledge of camera who are considering moving into a camera department role, entering film school at the MA level, or industry camera technicians and trainees who want to learn more. It is designed for directors who want to improve their understanding of the camera’s function in visual storytelling and learn more about lighting and operating.