Praxis Digital Academy: Introduction to Cinematography

What is Cinematography?

It takes a lot to say you have adequate knowledge of cinematography and film production. According to the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), cinematography refers to creating original art through an illuminating and creative process. It is an “act of making motion pictures.” Cinematography is used in entertainment and other fields like mass media, science and business. It is the creation of images you see on screen.

What does a Cinematographer do?

A cinematographer presides over the light and camera crew on video production. They work with the director to create images that portray the script. They put the following into consideration.

• Camera placement
• Camera movement
• Shot composition
• Shot size
• Focus
• Lighting

The act of filmmaking is very lucrative when everything goes according to plan. Cinematography is an aspect of filmmaking where decisions on camera and lightening effects occur. Cinematography is a very exciting but challenging aspect of filmmaking. Thus, if you want to know more about cinematography you need to get trained.

Terminologies in Cinematography

• Shots – This is the smallest unit of a film. There are several shots in a narrative film.
• Scenes – A scene involves the number of shots taken at a particular time. The scene also changes when the location changes.
• Extreme Long Shot – The cinematographer uses this kind of shot when he has to shoot two different places.
• Close-up Shot -The cinematographer zooms in on the face of the actor to reveal his emotions to the viewers.
• Extreme Close-up – When it seems as if the camera is very close to the figure or object then it is an extreme close-up shot. It makes the scene look intensive.
• Zoom Shot – This shot enhances subject focus within a scene. It also emphasises what the cinematographer wants you to pay attention to.

This February, Praxis Digital Academy offers you an intensive course in Cinematography. In this course you would learn the tenets of cinematography in the following modules.

MODULE 1

Script writing: Scriptwriting is the art of writing scripts for mass media. Lessons will include;

• Story research,
• Developing the narrative,
• Writing the script,
• Screenplay,
• Dialogues
• Delivery

Production design: Major topics include drafting, set design, budgeting, construction, painting, and aging. Student will work together on a selected design to complete the finished set. This would be used at the end of the course in a production. Emphasis is on application of techniques in a workshop environment also, Student would need to perform various artistic tasks.

Cinematography and camera: Camera are very important in cinematography. This lesson will focus on different cameras used in production. Different cameras serve different purposes thus great care is taken into getting the right camera for production.

Cinematic lighting: Proper lighting techniques are essential in achieving scenes that look natural. You’ll learn the basic lighting techniques used in filmmaking. Techniques like;

• Key Lighting
• Back Lighting
• Practical Light
• Soft Lighting
• High Key
• Motivated Lighting
• Low Key
• Ambient Light

MODULE 2

Sound and sound design: Sound design is the art of creating sound tracks. It involves using audio production tools and techniques to create auditory elements. It is used in filmmaking, radio, game development and television production.

On-set directing: A film director controls a film’s artistic and dramatic aspects. He visualises the screenplay (or script). He also guides the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision. The director plays a key role in choosing the cast members, production design, and the creative aspects of filmmaking.

Working with Green Screen Chroma key: Green Screen refers to the coloured background you want to make transparent and remove from your shot. This is usually a single coloured backdrop, which can be any colour. It is usually bright green because it is the colour furthest away from human skin tones. Blue screens were frequently used in the early days with film, and might still be used in certain cases.

While Chroma Key is a popular term that goes hand-in-hand with green screen. It’s the actual technique of layering, or compositing two images based on colour hues. Every colour has a chroma range, hence where the terminology comes from.

MODULE 3

Video editing and colour grading: This lesson reveals how videographers adjust the colours of their footage. Colour grading enables you enhance the colour of a motion picture. It entail colour Alteration from source file to final output. The colour correction and colour grading process involved will also be discussed.

Animation and effects: This involves the manipulation of pictures to appear like moving images. Animations were before drawn on celluliod sheets by hands, photographed and made into films. Today, most are computer generated. The effect of animation is achieved through rapid succession of images. These images slightly differ from each other

Introduction to acting: Acting is the enactment of a story by an actor in theatre, television or radio. This lesson will include what acting entails, which includes;

• Difference between professional and amateur acting
• Semiotics in acting
• How to control heart rate while acting
• Act of improvisation
• Relationship between the audience and the actor
• Rehearsing

The art of filmmaking is a great course to take. It gives you a raw taste of what it is like behind the scene. For further enquiry on the course kindly visit our website at digitalacademy.ng/the-art-of-film-making or pay us a visit at 52 Isheri Rd, Ojodu, Lagos.