Director Of Photography

Rabu, Juni 02, 2010 Pankratia Da Svit Kona- 0 Comments

1. A cinematographer is also known as the director of photography or DP for short. They are the head of the camera department and it is their job to capture the photographic impression of the directors' vision. Although the director determines the action and blocking of a given scene, it is the DP who looks through the camera to catch the moment on film. The director gives his/her vision of a particular shot to the DP who then translates that into how the camera will capture it.

The Process:

The DP receives a "shot-list" from the director and then analyzes how each scene will be lit, which camera filters and lenses to use, as well as the position of the camera. They will put their crew into motion to make certain that they get as close as possible to what the director initially had in mind. The DP is in charge of all camera operators, camera assistants, focus pullers as well as the lighting crews. Following production, the DP is responsible for making sure that the processing of the film is done to his/her exact specifications to insure all elements captured while shooting remain intact.

Skills & Education:

To be a truly memorable cinematographer, there are a few skill sets you will want to master:

* Your Eye: Before the camera captures a shot, you will need to fully envision it in your own mind first. This is one skill you need to develop now.

* Lighting: Study lighting. In every day life look around you and see how light works to set a mood. You have to understand how to work with lighting to get the most out of your shots.

* Study the Past: Study all movies and find out what it is about certain shots that work for you and learn how they accomplished it.

* Technology: Stay up on the latest photographic technology.

Technological skills are great assets to have, but you also must have a passion for the craft of cinematography. At its core, cinematography is an art form. It is a craft that must be mastered. After all, it can often make or break a movie or television program. There are numerous examples of where a great movie could have been a mediocre movie had the cinematographer not been up to snuff. If you do end up going to film school, don't expect to start at the top as a DP. You will be expected to earn your way up the ladder through your hard work, passion, persistence, people skills and lastly, your talent.

Career Advice:

To get your foot in the door of a career as a DP, you must be willing to work extremely hard. Unlike a writer who simply needs to learn the craft and start writing, becoming a great DP isn't dependent on you learning your craft and shooting amazing shots on your own. You must learn the craft, perfect it and then earn the right to become a DP.
The best way to accomplish this is by doing everything you can to learn from others. After all, as the old saying in Hollywood goes, "the people you meet today are the people who hire you tomorrow." So, when you're on a set, learn from anyone willing to teach you. A great DP understands the workings of the entire set and is eager to learn new things. Expect to start at the bottom and have no ego about it. You will gain the respect of those around you by doing so and they will be more eager to help you over the course of your career.

2. Plans, directs, and coordinates motion picture filming: Confers with DIRECTOR, MOTION PICTURE (motion picture) regarding interpretation of scene and desired effects.

Observes set or location and reviews drawings and other information relating to natural or artificial conditions to determine filming and lighting requirements. Reads charts and computes ratios to determine required lighting, film, shutter angles, filter factors, camera distance, depth of field and focus, angles of view, and other variables to produce desired effects. Confers with ELECTRICIAN, CHIEF (motion picture) to establish lighting requirements. Selects cameras, accessories, equipment, and film stock, utilizing knowledge of filming techniques, filming requirements, and computations. Instructs camera operators regarding camera setup, angles, distances, movement, and other variables and signals cues for starting and stopping filming. Surveys set or location for potential problems, observes effects of lighting, measures lighting levels, and coordinates necessary changes prior to filming. Views film after processing and makes adjustments, as necessary, to achieve desired effects. May direct television productions which utilize electronic cameras. May specialize in special effects and be designated Director Of Photography, Special Effects (motion picture; radio-tv broad.).

3. * Director of Photography

The director of photography is the chief of the camera and lighting crew of the film. The DP makes decisions on lighting and framing of scenes in conjunction with the film's director. Typically, the director tells the DP how they want a shot to look, and the DP chooses the correct aperture, filter, and lighting to achieve the desired effect. (from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_crew)