Yesterday, I enrolled in a Directing workshop that would hopefully provide me with any missing elements that I would need in directing my films. It was not more than a precautionary course that I enrolled in just to make sure I knew everything about filming. And no, I'm not going to brag that I know everything or almost everything in cinematography, because I don't...
Anyways, I just wanted to give you some things we spoke about in the session yesterday. As it was our first session, we talked about:
- Types of lenses and it's affect on the scene or the shot you are shooting.
- Types of shots and their terminology (eg: close ups, long shots, wide shots, etc)
- The 12 Golden Rules of cinematography
-Here are some of the 12 Golden Rules:
1)Cutting of long, un-important scenes to simpler shots that would tell the story in the same way.
2) Emphasizing a scene or an event-can be accomplished trough several techniques(eg: slow-motion, repetition of the same shots with different angles within the same scene, etc)
3)The Rule of thirds(you might say that this rule applies only to photography, but it isn't) The rule of third implies that there should be a balanced number of elements in your shot, or at least try to make your shot as balanced as you can. This involves dividing your shot into thirds, hence the name rule of thirds.
4) Imagine an equator-like line when you shoot people in the same room for example, and prevent the audience or viewer noticing transitions when cutting.
5) Try to use angles that would show a bit of depth when shooting two or more actors engaging in a conversation. You shouldn't shoot behind a character all the time when he's speaking to another character. Don't be like sticky white glue, instead try transitioning the position of the camera just enough to provide a visual feedback of some of the space between the actors.
6) Lighting: A- Key Light B- Fill Light C- Back Light
7) Composition of your scene. Make a well balanced composition with paying attention to what the viewer should focus on instead of distracting him/her with unnecessary details.
8) Clean entrances and exits of your characters.
9) The Main construction of a scene and how the camera should move accordingly.
The last rule states that if you have perfected a rule, you are then eligible to break it and do whatever you like based on it.
And as a director you should also be wary of the scenario/scripts as knowing them will give you a better shot of making everything better. Rehearsing or "pre-performing" a shot or scene before the actual shoot is a plus as well. This would make you more acquainted with the location of shooting and would grant you the ability to brainstorm perfect angle spots during the shoot itself instead of constantly thinking where would you start off.
So, before you go and shoot your short film you should make sure that everything connects. For instance, make sure your actor looks like the character that he is going to portray or at least being as close as possible to the look wanted from the character. Make sure that all the visual and aural elements connect together well.
You should make sure that the shot's composition matches with the actor's emotions or acting(eg : light, DOF, crop-age. etc ). Be engaged with your actors in every way you can think of, get friendly with them and start what they call a workshop. You should discuss what every shot looks like and ask him/her what postures are you most comfortable and put their answers in mind while shooting . Don't make the mistake of choosing the wrong kind of actor, because, unfortunately, that happens a lot here were i live and it makes everything turn out to be bad eventually.
4) Imagine an equator-like line when you shoot people in the same room for example, and prevent the audience or viewer noticing transitions when cutting.
5) Try to use angles that would show a bit of depth when shooting two or more actors engaging in a conversation. You shouldn't shoot behind a character all the time when he's speaking to another character. Don't be like sticky white glue, instead try transitioning the position of the camera just enough to provide a visual feedback of some of the space between the actors.
6) Lighting: A- Key Light B- Fill Light C- Back Light
7) Composition of your scene. Make a well balanced composition with paying attention to what the viewer should focus on instead of distracting him/her with unnecessary details.
8) Clean entrances and exits of your characters.
9) The Main construction of a scene and how the camera should move accordingly.
The last rule states that if you have perfected a rule, you are then eligible to break it and do whatever you like based on it.
And as a director you should also be wary of the scenario/scripts as knowing them will give you a better shot of making everything better. Rehearsing or "pre-performing" a shot or scene before the actual shoot is a plus as well. This would make you more acquainted with the location of shooting and would grant you the ability to brainstorm perfect angle spots during the shoot itself instead of constantly thinking where would you start off.
So, before you go and shoot your short film you should make sure that everything connects. For instance, make sure your actor looks like the character that he is going to portray or at least being as close as possible to the look wanted from the character. Make sure that all the visual and aural elements connect together well.
You should make sure that the shot's composition matches with the actor's emotions or acting(eg : light, DOF, crop-age. etc ). Be engaged with your actors in every way you can think of, get friendly with them and start what they call a workshop. You should discuss what every shot looks like and ask him/her what postures are you most comfortable and put their answers in mind while shooting . Don't make the mistake of choosing the wrong kind of actor, because, unfortunately, that happens a lot here were i live and it makes everything turn out to be bad eventually.
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