JCM412512/Cinematography (Discussion)

Template:Gallery If possible, provide examples from Out of the Past (above) for the following.

1. Group 4: What is focal length?
   • Define these focal-length terms:
     • Wide angle
     • Telephoto
     • Variable focal length lens (what's another, more common name for it?)
2. Group 1: What is depth of field?
   • Define these terms:
     • Shallow focus
     • Deep focus
     • Pulling focus (What's another name for it?)
3. Group 3: Framing.
   • Explain high/low angles.
   • Explain the differences among these types of camera movement:
     • Pan
     • Tilt
     • Handheld
     • Tracking or dolly shot
       • Explain the difference between a tracking/dolly shot and a zoom.
4. Group 4: What is aspect ratio?
   • Define/explain these terms/numbers:
     • Standard Ratio: 4 : 3 or 1.33 : 1
     • Widescreen
       • Anamorphic 2.35 or 2.4 : 1
       • Masked 1.85 : 1
       • TV widescreen: 16 : 9 or 1.78 : 1
   • What are the aspect ratios of Out of the Past and Ordinary People?

Cinematography and narrative

All groups:

In the Monster's Ball scene we viewed, what narrative functions does the cinematography serve? List three of them. Be sure to consider deep/shallow focus, focus shifts and framing in the third shot.

Bibliography

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

External links

1. Cinematography illustrations
2. Out of the Past frame captures
3. Out of the Past video clip
4. Shakespeare in Love video clip
5. Monster's Ball frame grabs