Thursday’s Class: Cinematography
Since people seem to have a grasp on using Moviemaker, I decided today’s class would be better spent thinking about the elements of film, learning its grammar. As Steve Stockman writes in his introduction to How to Shoot Video that Doesn’t Suck, “we understand video better than any humans that have ever lived. Most of us just don’t speak it very well.”
Let’s spend some time today learning the basics of the language.
First, a 9 minute video dealing with basic types of shots: tight, extreme close-up, establishing shot, wide shot, and over-the-shoulder.
The first part of this video demonstrates some basic tips for using a tripod:
Here’s an article that covers some of the most famous establishing shots.
Here’s a comprehensive video dealing with the rule of thirds.
Here’s another 8 minute film covering 17 different kinds of camera angles and shots.
For homework, I would recommend watching this video by Richard Michalak, Cinematography: Learn from a Master, especially his discussion of storyboarding early on.
