JCM312/Cinematography

Color, enlarged versions of the textbook illustrations are available online.

• Explain what focal length is -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • How does a zoom in/out look different from a track in/out?
• Explain what depth of field is -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • What is the difference between deep focus and deep space (as in mise-en-scene)?
• Explain what aspect ratio is -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • Also explain letterbox, pillarbox, and pan-and-scan.
    • Example video clips:
      • He Said, She Said letterboxing
      • He Said, She Said pan and scan
  • What are the aspect ratios of Day for Night, Shakespeare in Love and Monster's Ball?
• Explain the significance of camera framing, height, and movement -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • Example video clips:
    • Dollying and Dollying result
    • Handheld
    • Steadicam
  • When might movement be used that does not follow a character? How is a Steadicam shot different from a handheld shot?

Pillarboxed cell-phone video

Cinematography and narrative

In this Monster's Ball scene, what narrative functions does the cinematography serve? Each group should account for the cinematographic aspects noted above, paying particular attention to the third shot.

Shot three from a Monster's Ball scene.

Shot three from a Monster's Ball scene continues.

External links

1. Monster's Ball scene
2. Television illustrations, Chapter 8.
3. Cinematography illustrations
4. Monster's Ball frame grabs
5. Henri 2, Paw de Deux: black-and-white
6. Pillarboxed cell-phone video

Bibliography

1. Jeremy G. Butler, Television: Critical Methods and Applications, 4th Edition (New York: Routledge, 2012).
2. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction (New York: McGraw-Hill).