DC 275 Cinematography I
Summary
This course will be an intensive exploration of the craft, technologies and aesthetic principles of cinematography and lighting techniques for motion picture and digital video production. Lectures and in-class demonstrations will cover film and video formats, film cameras, DV and HDV cameras, exposure, lenses and optics, lighting units, lighting placement, lighting control, camera support, and camera movement. Class sessions will consist of lectures, demonstrations, hands-on with cameras and lighting units, exercises, and screenings of selected film and video clips which demonstrate specific cinematography and lighting techniques.
Texts
Required Text: Cinematography Theory and Practice by Blain Brown
Grading
Class Attendance and Participation 10%
Production Assignment # 1 10%
Production Assignment # 2 20%
Production Assignment # 3 30%
Final Exam 30%
A = 100-93 A- = 92-90
B+ = 89-88 B = 87-83 B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-78 C = 77-73 C- = 72-70
D+ = 69-68 D = 67-63 D- = 62-60
F = 59-0
Intro to Course
WORKSHOP: Camera Tech
READING: Film Space Pages 2-28, Visual Language Pages 30-44
Continuity and Camera Movement
WORKSHOP: Calibrating a field monitor, Camera Movement
READING: Camera Dynamics Pages 62-78, Cinematic Continuity 80-96
Color Theory
WORKSHOP: Complimentary and analogous color exercise
READING: Color Theory Pages 128-140 & Controlling color Pages 168-176
Depth of Field and Exposure
WORKSHOP: Canon tech, Focus and DOF exercise
READING: Lens Language Pages 46-60, Exposure Pages 118-123, Optics Pages 178-192
Optional reading: 104-117
Grip and Electric
WORKSHOP: 3 point lighting demo and exercise
READING: The Tools of Lighting Pages 142-156
Lighting
WORKSHOP: Lights and lighting- How to use a analog light meter, soft vs. hard light, direction and altitude
READING: Lighting as Story Telling Pages 158-166
Video and the Video Signal
WORKSHOP: JVC camera tech, Continue lighting exercise from last week, in the same groups
READING: OPTIONAL READING ONLY: Pages 194-218
Prep Final Projects
WORKSHOP: Lights and lighting-I can do that, matching cinematic lighting, basic booming technique
READING: Set Operations Pages 242-256 (for review)
Review for the Final
READING: Catch up on any reading you are behind on
Final Projects Due
Screen Final Projects
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
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have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
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