Cinematography is one of the most vital steps in filmmaking, and that is something everyone knows and agrees with. But are we aware of the work of a professional cinematographer? Their work is about taking the lead role for cameras and light crews. Cinematographers are also called ‘director of photography for the amazing talent of visual storytelling. If you wish to pursue a career as a cinematographer, here’s all that you should know.
How Is Cinematography Relevant To Filmmaking?
A TV show or film is about creating an audiovisual impact. It is the cinematography that determines how visuals can make or break the final product. In other words, elements like aspect ratio, camera, choice of lens, and angle width are important. They form a crucial part of the art of filmmaking.
When it comes to making a film, the way you shoot some scenes, and their after-effects have a huge role to play. For instance, when you take the medium shot, the audience is likely to feel they belong to the conversation. In contrast, an extremely wide shot would invariably make the subject look vulnerable.
The shot size acts as a determinant of how much the audience would see (or not see). The roles and responsibilities of cinematographers in movies are quite huge. In all three stages of production, a cinematographer plays quite a crucial role. Here’s taking a look.
Pre-Production
Usually, filmmaking starts once the director has a detailed discussion with the cinematographer to know their vision. After laying the foundation, the cinematographer determines how many people would be necessary as camera crew or what each scene needs. And they list out their requirements like purchase supplies, equipment, manpower, etc., in line with the movie’s budget.
Production
There must be a close collaboration between cinematographers and all the other cast and crew members in the film set. Otherwise, it is not possible to get the best visual outcome. And this includes everyone including camera operators, lighting department, directors, and the stars. The experts also employ diverse methods to create the exact roles necessary for the scenes. This includes the shot sizes, widths, lighting aspects, and camera angles.
Post-Production
Once the main work is over, the cinematographer discusses with the post-production people to check that the color is retained. All the visuals represent exactly what the director had in mind. The cinematographer can only materialize his creative vision.
Duties Of A Cinematographer
A cinematographer has many things to manage while working day and night, sometimes staying on the film set. From choosing the most appropriate visual style and approach in the film to determining the perfect lighting for every scene – a cinematographer does it all.
Let’s be clear – it is the lighting that provides the perfect visual mood for a scene in the movie, so the professional must test and determine the best lighting to boost the depth of the image. In doing so, the atmosphere or background would look perfect and render the right support to the subject.
Deciding On The Camera And Lenses
Everything from the kind of camera to use to the type of lenses, camera settings, and equipment types to use will be a decision of the cinematographer! How a camera moves also impacts the overall film, which is why a cinematographer is usually held accountable for planning whether the camera will stay still or move about.
How To Become A Cinematographer?
The passion and zeal for creating a visual representation of life via film and photography are what you must have as a cinematographer. However, without adequate industry experience, you cannot think of making a mark in even a lower-level role. Sorry for the harsh articulation, but we are talking about a fiercely competitive industry here! Gradually, you can start gaining more expertise and earn a reputation.
With plenty of film schools worldwide and that too with the most proficient industry experts and academicians dispensing quality lessons, learning cinematography these days has become fairly easy. By learning allied subjects like art, drama, and photography, you can gradually make a way towards cinematography. You could also connect with cinematographers and sign up for master classes to learn the nuances of the art! And when you set your heart and soul on something and work hard, achieving your dream would not be too hard!