In today’s film and television production environment, cinematographers work in a variety of different formats. Digital technology is continually evolving, but many productions are shot on film, which is still considered the standard by which other formats are judged. The principles of cinematography remain the same, regardless of the format.
Through lectures, screenings, demonstrations, fieldwork and critique, students gain a basic understanding of how to control the motion picture image and the creative possibilities and technical characteristics of various film stocks and digital sensors. Students learn the fundamentals of lighting scenes, exposure, color theory, depth-of-field, camera angles, shot design, composition, lenses, filtration, and camera movement.
Working in the studio, students also learn the differences between these technologies including lab processing versus digital workflow, latitude and dynamic range, and different lighting strategies for film and digital cameras.
Level 1 students must take the Set Etiquette and Safety Crash Course before this workshop.
Testimonials:
"Great experience"
- Marcus Kronemeyer, San Diego, CA
"Maine Media Workshops is about the whole experience...its got the best of everything...makes me want to come back every year."
- Shisha Guha Thakurta
"This course helped me grow as an artist and as a technician, increasing my knowledge while allowing me room to explore my own impulses."
- Jeremy Steeger, Cambridge, MA
"I feel much more confident in my lighting ability after taking this course"
- Luke Hudgins, Halifax, Nova Scotia
“I have watched movies with love ever since I saw Mary Poppins as a kid. I would sneak downstairs after my parents were asleep and watch movies on PBS. It was like being in another world. My first career was lighting design for theater but an accident with a drunk driver forced me to take a break. During this timeout I watched every single movie at the rental store, at least once, and when I was ready to work, I was ready for the movies. What a joy to be able to express ourselves through images. A picture needs to communicate the character’s emotion to the audience even if the mute button is on or they’re from another culture or if they’re watching a hundred years from now. I love solving these visual problems with the director.”