COURSE MODULE

CERTIFICATE COURSE ON CREATIVE CINEMATOGRAPHY:

POETRY OF MOTION

Course Overview: This course immerses students in the world of action cinematography, focusing on the integration of technical skills, creativity, and composition. Students will learn through a blend of lectures, hands-on workshops, presentations, and assignments. The course emphasizes the importance of equipment control, problem-solving, and portfolio development, preparing students for real-world cinematography challenges.

Course Methodology:

• Lectures: Introduce key concepts, theories, and case studies.

• Workshops: Provide hands-on experience with cameras, lighting, and other equipment.

• Assignments: Encourage practical application of skills learned in class.

• Presentations: Develop students' ability to communicate their creative ideas.

• Examinations: Assess students' understanding and application of course content.

Module Outline with Detailed Course Topics:

1. INTRODUCTION TO STORYTELLING AND DIRECTING

• Topics:

  • The role and responsibilities of a director in script development, pre-production, production, and post-production.

  • Fundamentals of storytelling.

  • Film genres and global cinema.

  • Understanding film language.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics" by Michael Rabiger (Focal Press)

    • "Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee (ReganBooks)

  • Videos:

    • Analysis of scenes from "Citizen Kane", "Pulp Fiction", and "Inception"

• Assignment:

  • Write a brief analysis of a film's storytelling techniques, focusing on the director's role.

• Homework:

  • Watch "The Godfather" and prepare a 2-page report on its narrative structure.

2. INTRODUCTION TO DIRECTING

• Topics:

  • Breaking down a script and creating a shot list.

  • Understanding the grammar of shots, casting, and staging.

  • Writing a creative treatment.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen" by Steven D. Katz (Michael Wiese Productions)

    • "The Director’s Six Senses" by Simone Bartesaghi (Michael Wiese Productions)

  • Videos:

    • Behind-the-scenes footage from "The Dark Knight", "Mad Max: Fury Road"

• Assignment:

  • Break down a provided short script and create a detailed shot list.

• Homework:

  • Create a storyboard for a 2-minute scene from a favorite film.

3. INTRODUCTION TO CINEMATOGRAPHY AND THE CAMERA

• Topics:

  • Overview of the cinematographer’s work.

  • Camera types, operations, lens types, and filters.

  • Depth of field, exposure, frame rates, white balance, and color correction.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Cinematography: Theory and Practice" by Blain Brown (Focal Press)

    • "The Five C's of Cinematography" by Joseph V. Mascelli (Silman-James Press)

  • Videos:

    • Camera settings tutorials on YouTube.

    • Scenes from "La La Land" showcasing depth of field and color usage.

• Assignment:

  • Practice adjusting depth of field and white balance with a DSLR camera and submit photo samples.

• Homework:

  • Research and write a short essay on the evolution of camera technology.

4. CAMERA & SHOOTING DYNAMICS

• Topics:

  • Camera lens choice, composition, and framing.

  • Techniques in camera movement: panning, tilting, dolly, Steadicam, and handheld.

  • Rules of composition: Rule of Thirds, 180-Degree Rule.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition" by Gustavo Mercado (Focal Press)

    • "The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV, and Digital Media" by Bruce Block (Routledge)

  • Videos:

    • Analysis of long takes in "Children of Men", "Goodfellas".

    • Tutorial on the use of Steadicam from "Rocky".

• Assignment:

  • Shoot a short sequence (1-2 minutes) focusing on dynamic camera movement and composition.

• Homework:

  • Analyze the framing and movement in a selected scene from "Birdman".

5. LIGHTING

• Topics:

  • Lighting for emotional impact: key light, fill light, and backlight.

  • Types of lighting units, color temperature, and controlling light.

  • Grip equipment, gels, diffusion, and 3-point lighting setup.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Lighting for Cinematography: A Practical Guide to the Art and Craft of Lighting for the Moving Image" by David Landau (Bloomsbury Academic)

    • "Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers at Work" by Benjamin Bergery (ASC Press)

  • Videos:

    • Lighting breakdowns from "Blade Runner 2049", "Moonlight".

• Assignment:

  • Set up a 3-point lighting scenario and take photos to demonstrate different lighting effects.

• Homework:

  • Watch "Barry Lyndon" and analyze the use of natural light.

6. WORKING WITH AUDIO

• Topics:

  • Types of microphones: shotgun, lavalier, and condenser.

  • Background ambience, noise reduction, and sound dynamics.

  • Working with lavalier microphones and reducing echo in different environments.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Sound for Film and Television" by Tomlinson Holman (Focal Press)

    • "The Location Sound Bible: How to Record Professional Dialog for Film and TV" by Ric Viers (Michael Wiese Productions)

  • Videos:

    • Sound design examples from "A Quiet Place", "Dunkirk".

• Assignment:

  • Record a short audio clip using different microphones and compare the results.

• Homework:

  • Watch "The Conversation" and write a report on its use of sound.

7. ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNIQUES

• Topics:

  • Day exterior lighting, bounced and diffused sunlight.

  • Lighting for interviews: studio vs. outdoor.

  • Advanced camera movement and lighting for green screen.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Motion Picture and Video Lighting" by Blain Brown (Focal Press)

    • "Painting With Light" by John Alton (University of California Press)

  • Videos:

    • Tutorials on green screen lighting from "The Mandalorian".

    • Case studies on outdoor lighting in "Lawrence of Arabia".

• Assignment:

  • Set up and shoot an interview scene with a focus on lighting.

• Homework:

  • Analyze the lighting in an outdoor scene from "No Country for Old Men".

8. PROJECT

• Topics:

  • Introduction to documentary and music video production.

  • Basics of editing, using B-roll, and cutaway shots.

  • Adding transitions, effects, and designing titles.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "The Technique of Film and Video Editing" by Ken Dancyger (Focal Press)

    • "In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing" by Walter Murch (Silman-James Press)

  • Videos:

    • Editing tutorials on Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

    • Examples of B-roll and cutaways from "The Social Network", "Whiplash".

• Assignment:

  • Edit a provided video clip, incorporating B-roll, transitions, and effects.

• Homework:

  • Watch "Whiplash" and write an analysis of its editing style.

9. COMPOSITION, FRAMING & AESTHETICS OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Topics:

  • Principles of composition and framing.

  • Aesthetic considerations in cinematography.

  • Understanding visual storytelling through composition.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV, and Digital Media" by Bruce Block (Routledge)

    • "The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition" by Gustavo Mercado (Focal Press)

  • Videos:

    • Scene analysis from "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "The Revenant".

• Assignment:

  • Create a photo essay that tells a story through composition and framing.

• Homework:

  • Watch "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and analyze its use of symmetry in composition.

10. EQUIPMENT FOR SHOOT

• Topics:

  • Introduction to specialized equipment: head mount, car mount, shoulder mount, trolley, jib, Steadicam, drone.

  • Practical applications of each tool in various shooting scenarios.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "The Digital Filmmaking Handbook" by Sonja Schenk and Ben Long (Cengage Learning)

    • "Digital Cinematography: Fundamentals, Tools, Techniques, and Workflows" by David Stump (Focal Press)

  • Videos:

    • Tutorials on drone cinematography, Steadicam use from "The Shining".

• Assignment:

  • Create a short film using at least two different types of camera mounts.

• Homework:

  • Research and write a report on the evolution and impact of Steadicam technology in filmmaking.

11. DIFFERENT TYPES OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

• Topics:

  • Exploring various cinematography styles: narrative, documentary, experimental, and music videos.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Cinematography: Theory and Practice" by Blain Brown (Focal Press)

    • "Cinematography: A Guide for Directors and Cinematographers" by Peter Ettedgui (Routledge)

  • Videos:

    • Examples from "Baraka", "The Thin Blue Line", "Run Lola Run".

• Assignment:

  • Select a cinematography style and shoot a 2-3 minute short film emulating that style.

• Homework:

  • Watch "Baraka" and analyze its cinematography style.

12. MASTER CLASS WITH A MASTER CINEMATOGRAPHER

• Topics:

  • Insights into the working methods, challenges, and creative decisions of a professional cinematographer.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers at Work" by Benjamin Bergery (ASC Press)

    • "Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know" by Jennifer Van Sijll (Michael Wiese Productions)

  • Videos:

    • Selected works and interviews of the guest cinematographer.

• Assignment:

  • Write a reflective essay on the master class experience and key takeaways.

• Homework:

  • Research the guest cinematographer’s filmography and prepare questions for the Q&A session.

13. FINAL PROJECT ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATION

• Topics:

  • Developing a shooting plan, production design, filming, and editing a final short film project.

• Study Materials:

  • Books:

    • "Making Movies" by Sidney Lumet (Vintage)

    • "Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television" by Judith Weston (Michael Wiese Productions)

  • Videos:

    • Analysis of student films from previous courses, editing tutorials.

• Assignment:

  • Complete a final short film (5-10 minutes), incorporating all the techniques learned throughout the course.

• Homework:

  • Prepare a production journal documenting the final project’s development process.

Additional Resources:

• Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve.

• Online Resources: MasterClass courses by various filmmakers, Lynda.com tutorials on cinematography.

• Reference Books:

  • "In the Blink of an Eye: A Perspective on Film Editing" by Walter Murch (Silman-James Press)

  • "The Filmmaker’s Handbook" by Steven Ascher and Edward Pincus (Plume)

    
    

This comprehensive module is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field of creative cinematography, with a strong emphasis on practical application and portfolio development.