Difference between revisions of "Style and the Camera (Discussion)"
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==DP exercise== | ==DP exercise== | ||
| − | If you were a DP reshooting | + | If you were a DP reshooting shots from ''Stranger Things'' and ''New Girl'' (see screen shots below), how might you change their cinematographic aspects? |
#''Describe'' a cinematographic element's use in these two screenshots. I.e., start by describing the frame's depth of field ('''Group 1'''), focal length ('''Group 2'''), aspect ratio ('''Group 3'''), and framing/height ('''Group 4'''). | #''Describe'' a cinematographic element's use in these two screenshots. I.e., start by describing the frame's depth of field ('''Group 1'''), focal length ('''Group 2'''), aspect ratio ('''Group 3'''), and framing/height ('''Group 4'''). | ||
| − | #Imagine ''changing'' that element's use in | + | #Imagine ''changing'' that element's use in the moment captured in the screenshots below. |
#*'''Groups 3''': these screenshots use different aspect ratios: 2x1 and 16x9 (1.78x1). Which is which? What if the DP choose to shoot these shows in 2.35x1 (anamorphic) or 1.33x1? How would that change the impact of the shot? | #*'''Groups 3''': these screenshots use different aspect ratios: 2x1 and 16x9 (1.78x1). Which is which? What if the DP choose to shoot these shows in 2.35x1 (anamorphic) or 1.33x1? How would that change the impact of the shot? | ||
#*'''Group 2''': how might a zoom lens (a variable focal-length lens) be used in this shot? | #*'''Group 2''': how might a zoom lens (a variable focal-length lens) be used in this shot? | ||
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<gallery mode="packed" heights=200px> | <gallery mode="packed" heights=200px> | ||
| − | File:StrangerThingsS01E02qq00 00 28qq00005.png|alt=Frame capture from ''Stranger Things''.| | + | File:StrangerThingsS01E02qq00 00 28qq00005.png|alt=Frame capture from ''Stranger Things''.|Screenshot from ''Stranger Things''. [https://vimeo.com/347836791 View clip (starting at 14 seconds).] |
| − | File:NewGirl20110911qq00 01 34qq.jpg|alt=Frame capture from ''The New Girl''.| | + | File:NewGirl20110911qq00 01 34qq.jpg|alt=Frame capture from ''The New Girl''.|Screenshot from ''The New Girl''. [http://www.tcf.ua.edu/EO/DV/NewGirl.php View clip.] |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 17:58, 18 September 2020
Review topics from Television
Depth of field
- 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) -- using the textbook illustrations?
Focal length
- Explain what focal length is -- using the textbook illustrations.
- How does a zoom in/out look different from a track in/out?
- How does the Vertigo effect illustrate the impact of focal length on the illusion of depth in an image? View clip (starting at 35 seconds)
Aspect ratio
- Explain what aspect ratio is -- using the textbook illustrations.
- Also explain letterbox, pillarbox and pan-and-scan.
Framing, height, and movement
- Explain the significance of camera framing, height, and movement -- using the textbook illustrations.
- When might movement be used that does not follow a character?
- How is a Steadicam shot different from a handheld shot?
- See Steadicam examples from ER: behind-the-scenes and the resulting shot.
DP exercise
If you were a DP reshooting shots from Stranger Things and New Girl (see screen shots below), how might you change their cinematographic aspects?
- Describe a cinematographic element's use in these two screenshots. I.e., start by describing the frame's depth of field (Group 1), focal length (Group 2), aspect ratio (Group 3), and framing/height (Group 4).
- Imagine changing that element's use in the moment captured in the screenshots below.
- Groups 3: these screenshots use different aspect ratios: 2x1 and 16x9 (1.78x1). Which is which? What if the DP choose to shoot these shows in 2.35x1 (anamorphic) or 1.33x1? How would that change the impact of the shot?
- Group 2: how might a zoom lens (a variable focal-length lens) be used in this shot?
- How would such a change affect the scene's impact or the viewer's understanding of it?
Screenshot from Stranger Things. View clip (starting at 14 seconds).
Screenshot from The New Girl. View clip.
Bibliography
- Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Visual Storytelling and Screen Culture. New York: Routledge, 2018.
External links
- Illustrations from Television chapter 9.
- New Girl clip
- Northern Exposure clip (on Blackboard)
- Hitchcock's Vertigo effect — also on YouTube
- Vertigo effect in Jaws — also on YouTube
