Style and the Camera (Discussion)

If you were a cinematographer reshooting the Northern Exposure scene we saw Tuesday, how might you change the following cinematographic aspects? How how would that change affect the scene's impact or the viewer's understanding of it?

1. Discuss the aspect assigned to your group and be prepared to explain what it is to the class.
2. Imagine how you might hypothetically have shot this scene differently. What impact would these cinematographic changes have on the viewer?

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.

Group 2

• 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?

Bibliography

1. Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.

External links

• Illustrations from Television chapter 6.