Cine. 260 Outline: Adjunct
Instructor: TJ Williams 206 769 8585
Required
Text:
Cinematography
by Kris Malkiewicz and David Mullen 3rd edition
Updated for the 21st Century.
Recommended
Film
Lighting by Kris Malkiewicz interviews with well known Dp’s
American
Cinematographer Manual, published by the ASC
Professional
Cameraman’s Handbook Vern and Sylvia Carlson
Kodak Student Filmmaker’s Handbook, Kodak communications.
A
man with a camera Nestor Almendros
Masters
of Light Schaefer and Salvato
Masters
of Light and Depth, Ross Lowell
Meetings
Overview: Class meets Monday and Wednesday at
There
will be a 10 minute break in the middle of class. The first class meeting is
Wed Jan 2
Meetings
may vary in order and date to accommodate guest speakers or field trips. We will
be asking working professionals to give their time and facilities to open
themselves for student tours which must clearly be done around their paid
client schedules. If it can be made to meet most student schedules then some of
the trips will be at hours other than the class hours.
In
all Meetings: Other topics may be introduced by student questions or from our discussions.
When we run quick on the outline topics we will open the floor to discussions
of student interest or show short movie clips and discuss their lighting and
camera movement techniques. The class will have a number of quizzes (to be
determined) some short class reports, according to student desire for extra
credit. small group projects and a class group project The small group
project and class project will count for 60% of the grade. 40 % of the grade
will be based on the quizzes and final. Additional points will be assigned by
the instructor for outstanding class participation or extra projects negotiated
with the instructor. You cannot audit
this class. The small and large groups will meet for their productions both for
planning in class during class time and on the shooting locations during class
time. The instructor will attend all of campus shooting sessions. All class
students may attend the shootings of other groups as observers and will receive
participation credit for doing so.
Required
for all classes: Dvd and Vhs player, interface to laptop, Dv tape playback to projector. Or large monitor. Composite feed from camera or video tap
for demonstrations live in class.
Clear space for students to work. Ability to move chairs to edges of room. Ability to darken room.
The
whole class Project will include a Shooting of a sequence selected from a script in
the scriptwriting class. As above. Or provided by the
instructor or from a class member and approved by the class majority. This project will be shot using digital
cinema techniques. HD or RED camera and will be directed as above. Color correction in either RED Cine. Or on
Final Cut Studio. At this point the RED Cine camera has been delayed
until after
In
the Above small group project, Students will rotate through crew positions.
Including: Dp,
Operator, First Asst. Second Asst. Gaffer, Key Grip, Art Director, Grips
Electricians Pa’s
There will be tryouts for Dp, Operator 2nd Operator 1st
Asst. 2nd Asst Loader. For the large group project.
The
class will vote after watching each person perform the job and talk to the
class about what they want to do. The remainder of the class will be selected
or self select for Makeup, hair, costumes, props, design and the other
necessary crafts. Often these positions
will give an opportunity to observe and learn which is superior to actually
doing the job at this beginning level. This also gives an exploratory
opportunity for students to consider some of the many other film crafts.
Students
from the Directing film class may serve as directors. Or one of our class
members may direct, as the class chooses. Their participation will be limited
in this situation to directing, and blocking the actors. The
team from Cine. Class will decide on camera setups angles sight lines
direction of camera movement, execution of camera movement, lighting
instruments and lighting style. In other words in this special learning
situation the Director will not make any technical decisions.
CHANGE: Previous suggestion for small group project
is still left below for your information: I feel these are values we may prefer
in sequences to be filmed for the reasons given below. This is not a documentary class and all
projects will be shot from scripts or preferably storyboards.
(Some
suggestions on Story for the project: Sequences which features violence or
action scenes love scenes, beatings, bar
fights, gun fights, comic pratfalls, monster attacks, chases of various
sorts. Horror sequences etc., as a major part of the work in cinema is
concerned with sex and violence. Also these types of sequences avoid dramatic
direction, sync sound recording, and instead emphasize the blocking,
lighting and tricks and techniques of camera and subject movement. You should
create action sequences to be cut from shots where the actual sex and or
violence has not actually happened. Dps. usually
have a significant role in this part of the design of films, so we will not be
moving so much into the territory of the director)
Week 1. Basic Cinematography Class:
Ordering of film stock selection of film stock by week2
0
By meeting 3 read first two chapters in Cinematography be ready
for
Quiz at meeting 3 hopefully we will review at meeting 2 or in
the meeting directly before the quiz. Time in class to form
small groups for small group project.
1. Jobs as Dp.
Or operator a discussion, to get this hot topic out of the way. Including film
shooting and film style electronic shooting.
Class is to be seen as a class in technique and craftsmanship.
2. Movie Credits and what they
mean.
3. Relationships you will need
to form. Labs. Homework assignment to contact the web sites of the lab in
4. Familiarity with stocks
5. you should be familiar with the
Vision Vision II and Vision
6. Construction of the film
sequence. The analogy
to house building. How pieces are assembled into a complete film. MEDIA:
Disk 1 commentary Lord of the Rings. An introduction to film viewing as
film study. No sound No Picture, commentaries such as this, on Dvd.
7. Discussion of the class
schedule and class projects.
8. Request for students to look
at a sequence from a film they have on dvd or
especially like with the sound turned off and a 1 paragraph report on what they
learned from it. Good to bring it to the second class.
Hour two mechanics of Film
Cameras introduction to assisting.
TJj on assisting
Loading dummy loads into GSMO/CPr/EclairAcl
Required: Dvd LrdRingComment disk 1. CD Sequences.
Film cameras and dummy loads.
Request any students who have light meters to bring
them to session 2.
Request students look at Eastman web site or
Week 2. Be ready for quiz 1 next meeting metering and first two text ch.
Do review in class.
1. Meters and metering. Measurement of ambient light, key fill ratios. Reflective and spot metering. Mechanics of meters.
2. Gossen Luna pro info: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/luna-pro_f/luna-pro_f-splash.htm
3. Minolta and Konica manual sites: http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/main/kmpi/content/cam/cam_SupportCenter/ManualResults
4. Older Sekonic, selenium cell, needs no battery L398 as used by: Dp. Vittorio Storaro Most Dp establish part of their personal style thru meter choices.
5. The lens barrel T and F stops. 1.6 2.8 4.0 5.6 8.0 11.0 16.00 22.00 32.00 stops are doubling.
6. Displays and the info. You get ie. Range of stops visible in analog types, or know them in digital metering. How, digital/new is not necessarily better. Ruggedness of digital meters.
7. Calibration in the field, compare meters ie gaffer and Dp.
8. Range of stops on film and tape. How tape is like reversal film.
9. Behind the lens metering on film and tape cameras. The patterns. The weaknesses.
10. Focus, the depth of field and it’s causes. The need for a cinema lens to: not breathe, move evenly thru the focal distances, gearing, 32 tooth 20 degree,
11. zoom by rotating. The lens barrel, gearing need for, common zoom ranges in cinema lenses, weaknesses and advantage of zooms compared to prime lenses.
12. Students use a variety of meters to take readings of areas in the classroom and/or adjoining areas.
2nd Hour: Introduction to lighting use of a multiple soft or hard lights to light the human face High key, Low key, Kicker hair light, back light set light etc. contrast measurement.
Required: My spot meter and my reflective
meter. My old Sekonic meter the
Request students bring samples of dvd or vhs video to show lighting examples they like in films to discuss. For next time.
Week 3. Quizz on light metering. First two chapters of text. Be ready next week for quiz on filters and lighting from the text.
1. Forming of groups for projects. 4 person groups will shoot and edit a sequence which will be lit, have camera movement, shot out of sequence, Include the adjunct aspects discussed in upcoming classes, and be of an “action nature”
2. Discussion of the project. Setting of the rules for grading: each participant grades 1 thru 3 their fellow participants. the grades are then distributed by points to each participant. Standard of project grading will be a vote of the class rating the projects 1 thru /// by secret ballot. The class members are instructed to vote according to the cinematography values taught and discussed in class. Rationale is that we are learning to make images in support of entertainment so audience reaction is really the only criteria.
3. Discussion of the difference between light levels for exposure and the aesthetics of actually lighting scenes. Use of Shadow. Bright BG KeyFillRimSoftHardKicketc.
4. Show some examples of lighting and discuss them. Student DVDs or the downloads I bring.
5. Basic Lighting Design, The three light setup.
6. Soft versus hard light, how they are achieved, types of instruments and grip equipment or chimeras etc. abolut hard light wide shots with soft light close-ups.
7. Key and fill ratios.
8. Side and rim lighting.
9. Light color, the black ball glows for Kelvin.
10. Introduction to types of instruments. Quartz, Hmi, Kino, sodium vapor, (new street lights) halogen? (blue street lights)
11. estranious sources, turn em off esp charge coupled and masking with duvy etc.
12. Student groups get together for a little planning and to exchange phones, e mail etc. Next time a spokesperson from each group will present on why they are choosing stock XXX Why it’s right for their project. What qualities it has. Where they will buy it. Where they will have it processed.
Shooting from a tripod. We will use a long lens and focus puller operator pair to follow tightly framed shots of multiple actors moving about the room sitting etc. Each person in the class will get a turn others will judge the framing smoothness and focus accuracy.
Required: My basic lighting kit, some silk, singles doubles 1 C stand, school kit. Stinger cables, large sheet clips, ladder if possible. Dimmers.
School video camera hooked into projector. Bring Cds of downloaded materials, show on laptop? Bring my DV camera or use school P200camera for 2nd hour. Need projector or large monitor. Need focus tape and tape for floor marks for actors.
Week 4. Quiz on filters and lighting. This
following is very wonky gearhead stuff! I will not quiz on this as not everyone
is a technician but it is good to know if you want to work in a camera dept. Be
sure to select someone who paid attention here to load and assist on your
project! Next week quiz on chapter on image manipulation.
1. Camera mechanisms,
intermittent movement, claws, Registration pins, pull down, mag drives, motors,
accessories etc.
2. camera loading, Each student will
load at least one of the cameras.
3. test run, loop test,
4. scratch test.
5. Camera controls. Speeds,
meters, start stop (close open switch) not intermit like video camera, other controls.
6. Camera power. 12V 24V what
that means amps and real current.
7. Camera speeds, crystal
speeds, sync sound introduction. Incl 24, us sync 25
euro. Pal, history
incl18fps, 29.97 and 30 fps and why.
8. Common cameras incl: Live
demo on Cp 16 Cp gsmo, Arri Bl 16 manuals demo on
Arri SR 16 Aaton 16 Arri Bl 35
others as time allows.
9. shooting tests and their importance.
Camera/stock/lighting/costumes/
10. speed ramping how it works.
11. student groups to bring a 1
paragraph report on a film stock they are considering using and why they think
it would be right for their project.
12. discussion of film stocks and rating
speed, pushing, pulling, bleach bypass processing, etc.
Required: Bcc Cp, My GSMO and
Arri Bl, 12 V power supplied by Bcc tech. My PDF Manuals project from laptop. 16mm
film stock NG for tests loading by students etc. fm my
recan frig.
Assignment of gear. And setting of schedules, for
those small groups who are ready to shoot.
Week 5.
1. Screen direction the
proscenium or the line.
2. Eye lines lord of the rings
looking at Hobbits, and esp the
3. lighting direction and continuity,
key movement on CU overlapped lighting, continuousness of ratios,
continuousness of depth of field in cross coverage.
4. getting coverage.
5. overlapped action as a
coverage strategy
6. master and cu coverage
strategy
7. Single shot masters crane
and Steadicam as a coverage strategy.
8. story boards, script breakdown
etc. the planning for the shoot.
9. Student groups have meetings to finalize their scripts.
Required: Some scripts, some call sheets, some
breakdowns if possible, some storyboards for spots etc.
Request: Students bring the completed scripts to the
next class. This should be every small group. They should not be usual or
commonly formatted movie scripts because:
The scripts should emphasize camera movement, lighting type and
direction, actor placement sizing and movement, and locations
Assignment of gear for those groups who are ready to shoot.
Week 6.
1. Students who have not yet shot bring final
scripts to class (last possible moment) .
Discuss and assign allocation of equipment and schedule of shooting.
2. Discussion of specific
problems of lighting, rigging, matching etc. in the various student projects.
3. Set up rehearsel situations
in class using the student projects and or made up dramatic examples and light
the shots.
4. Lecture/discussion about
moving the key light in from wide shots(ws) to closeup (cu.)
5. position the camera to isolate the
action from the background in these demonstrations.
6. discussion of the readings.
7. viewing of more student supplied or
my clips talk about the lighting of the various shots and especially the match
between shots. Discussion of shooting at the same depth of field. In matching
shots.
8. Discussion and possible
demonstration of atmospherics.
9. Discussion of transfer to
tape process.
10. Quizz.
Hour
two set up of the large group project. Possibly shoot a Tv
commercial or other sequence on 16mm if the group agrees to fund it. Otherwise on P2
Or Dv using my camera. so we can use longer
lenses. Rehearsel of the shots Casting of talent,
deciding on crewing positions. Scheduling of the day time for
shooting. Prefer night or
interiors for this project.
Finals
Week
We
will have a final test on class meeting one.
We
will have a discussion or guest to be determined.
We
will have the showing and evaluation of the projects at meeting two.
Meeting 14 thru 21. (*or fill in other order or mix with classes.) All That are available within our time/ scheduling constraints.
1. Alpha Cine Lab tour, timing
light tour. contact Jean Fee jeanf@alphacine.com
timer to give tour Ryan Adams phone
2. Modern Digital or Victory
Studios Davinci film to tape transfer color correction. tour of color
correction and digital intermediates. Also projection set up. At Alpha
3. Basic Camea Mechanics,
loading, assisting.
4. Grip Lighting equipment,
5. Film Camera Rental, rental
checkout and rental prep. Ie collating lenses, flange
focal check, etc. Oppenheimer Cine, or Koerner Camera
6. Small and large group
location projects. Meetings to shoot
7. Stunts and Action Filming
demonstration if available.
8. Camera operating
demonstration if available
9. Steadicam use demonstration.
10. Camera remote head Crane
demonstration.
11. Meeting in Davinci room to transfer student
projects.
12. Extra credit for editing student shooting
projects.
13. Camera Dolly demonstration.
14. Complex Lighting or Product
lighting demonstration and exercises.