Summary
The period of Pre-Production is perhaps the most intensive for the role of a cinematographer. While production requires strict adherence to a predetermined shot list, pre-production requires a significant amount of planning and forethought as well as heavy collaboration within the production team. For this production, my pre-production work will be focused on determining how distance can affect the mood and tone of a shot/scene. I also want to practice working with focus and shifting focus within a single shot in order to shift perspective.
Element 74: Push in – Pull out
Element 59: Extreme Close-Up
Film Element 67: Static Shot
Test Shots
Difference in focal length:
Difference in camera placements:
Lighting Tests
I conducted a lighting test in the green room in order to determine how exactly my light source would affect the subject I was filming. I determined that filming in a dark location has the benefit of being able to heavily control the lighting environment. However, given my resources as a student, I think that experimenting with both natural light and controlled light will yield a more diverse lightscape for my current film production.
Equipment Checklist
-Camera 1
-Alternate Camera
-Tripod
-Light Block
-Audio Deck
-XLR Cord
-Boom Mic
-USB transfer cables (camera and audio deck)
Collaboration with Director
NA (2-person film team)
Set-up Sequence Workflow
-Acquire cameras
-Test lens focus and battery levels
-Acquire tripod/stabilizing equipment
-Move to the shooting location
-Set up tripod/s at the predetermined angles and heights
-Affix camera/s to tripods and set brightness levels
-Roll camera
Map of Each Location
Storyboard Notation
What I Learned
I learned from this production that I still have a lot to learn (obviously) about how to properly fulfill the role of a cinematographer, as well as how to properly collaborate with my film team. In previous productions, I was unaware of the heavy amount of work needed during pre-production. This time around, I was able to practice my skills of setting intentions and applying them to my production. As a cinematographer, I developed many of my 21st-century skills, most particularly problem-solving. This is because our film team was limited to two members, so I had to juggle my responsibilities as a cinematographer while also fulfilling the jobs of other roles.