Summary
The goal for this session was to make a 2 or less minute film that is dialogue-based and uses ADR (Automated Dialogue Recording). As the cinematographer, I had to use camera movement in order to raise or lower tension.
Role
Cinematographer
Intention (SMART Goal)
For this session, I will learn how to control camera movement in order to help tell a story. This goal will be met when camera movement in common film is easily recognizable to me. I will obtain the skills required to meet this goal by watching the videos linked in the film resources section of the schedule. I’m setting this goal now because it is the most recent requirement in our film session. This goal should be completed two weeks from now, which should be enough time to research and test this goal.
PRE-PRODUCTION – INQUIRY
Leader(s) in the Field / Exemplary Work(s)
John Alcott was a cinematographer for Stanley Kubrick. Throughout The Shining, Alcott does a great job of showing much of the hotel in his shots even when the focus is on the characters and what they’re doing/saying.
Primary
Secondary
The speaker talks about how Kubrick used a steady and low to the ground camera to create the feeling that something is watching. I think this is a very interesting way of raising tension with only the camera. The speaker states that it’s almost as if the hotel itself is watching them, which fits perfectly with the story and really builds the suspense that the viewers of the film feel.
Training Source(s)
Slider
Monopod
Glide Cams
Project Timeline
- Help brainstorm the story
- Help to brainstorm the scenes for the story with director and screenwriter
- Help decide shooting location, with lighting and space in mind
- Create the basic storyboard with the director and note shots and camera movement
- Create an advanced storyboard with the team
- Create a shot list in an order that makes sense
- Reset camera settings
- Set camera settings following the sheet
- Light Scenes in order to fit the story
- Position camera following the storyboard
- Film scenes as planned
- Import video files so that the editor has access
- Create slides for the end of session film presentation, having evidence of requirements
- Practice presentation in order to maximize efficiency
- Present film and slideshow to the board and show evidence of all the targets
PRODUCTION – ACTION
The (FILM, SOUND, or GAME Creation)
POST-PRODUCTION – REFLECTION
21st Century Skills
Ways of Thinking (Creativity, Innovation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving)
Since we did not have a stabilizer, some of the moving shots I got were too shaky to use. To fix this, I decided to change the shot to a static shot so you could still tell what was going on and it’s not too shaky to understand.
Ways of Working (Communication & Collaboration)
Our film required a lot of communication and collaboration because we filmed outside of school, so we had to communicate things like where and when to film.
Tools for Working (Info & Media Literacy)
Before the filming process, I researched the different types of camera movements and what they mean. I also looked up an analysis video of the cinematography of The Shining.
Ways of Living in the World (Life & Career)
How this session contributes to the ways of living in the world is that it required me to stay on task and fix problems with out of the box solutions. I also had to create a presentation that was efficient and professional
Reactions to the Final Version
When reviewed by a peer cinematographer, Laari, she said that she “liked the camera movement, especially when it was used to reveal things that were previously out of frame”. Additionally, a professional, Sam, stated hat “Push ins showed dramatic intensity that added to the tension of the film”. However, he did state that “vertical pans felt a little choppy/shaky”. Overall, it seems that the camera movement was solid, but the vertical pans can be improved. Next time, I will use a tripod for the vertical pans, instead of doing them by hand.
Self-Evaluation of Final Version
Our film this session had about four of the six success acronym. Our film was had an unexpected twist at the end and it told a story. It also had a fairly simple and emotional plot.
What I Learned and Problems I Solved
In this session, I’ve learned how to use camera movement and zooms in order to raise intensity in a scene. One problem we had in our film is that we used a dog like a wolf, but the dog did not follow directions too well. To solve this problem, we only had one shot of the dog used.
Grammar and Spelling
Editor
Silas