JCM412512/Cinematography (Discussion)

Template:Gallery Provide examples from the Television textbook (online) or Out of the Past (above) for the following.

1. Group 2: What is depth of field?
   • Define these terms:
     • Shallow focus
     • Deep focus
     • Pulling focus (What's another name for it?)
2. Group 1: What is focal length?
   • Define these focal-length terms:
     • Wide angle
     • Telephoto
     • Variable focal length lens (what's another, more common 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 is the aspect ratio of 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. David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction (McGraw-Hill).
2. Jeremy G. Butler, Television: Critical Methods and Applications (Routledge)

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
6. Monster's Ball video clip