JCM312/Cinematography

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

• Group 3: Explain what focal length is -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • How does a zoom in/out look different from a track in/out?
• Group 4: 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)?
• Group 1: Explain what aspect ratio is -- using the textbook illustrations.
  • Also explain letterbox 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?
• Group 2: 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?

Cinematography and narrative

In this Monster's Ball scene, what narrative functions does the cinematography serve? Be sure to consider deep/shallow focus, focus shifts and framing in 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

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).