RESEARCH: CINEMATOGRAPHY - MISS BEGUM

What is cinematography? Why is it important?

Cinematography is the way a frame is captured to get the best out of the picture. It is the camerawork in the making of a film. It has to get the best representation and make best impression on the viewer as only good camerawork will portray the good aspects of the frame. When used effectively cinematography will seem natural for the eye and the image will be  more believable for the viewer which is important because in order to make a successful film the audience should believe in it and feel like they area part of the plot. this is why cinematography is such an important micro-element.

Cinematography branches out to three different sections which include:

·         Angles

·         Movement

·         Sizes

 

Camera Angles:

Camera angles help to establish the order and status of a character. They also create different reactions from the audience. These are three of the angles which I have learned about:

Low angle:

A low angle is when the camera is placed lower than the character allowing them to look superior and dominant. This way the audience looks up to them and can feel intimidated by the power they possess. A low angle distinguishes an authority figure and can show when someone is a threat and danger to somebody else. This is an example of a low angle. This man looks powerful due to the low angle which makes the spectator look up to him as if begging for mercy.

High angle:

A high angle is when the camera is placed above the character making them look inferior and weak. A high angle makes the audience look down on someone which makes us feel in power or pity depending on who we look down on. A high angle makes the character look up to either the spectator or another actor in the film. This high angle of a man makes us feel sorry for him as he looks terrified and scared of something or someone.

 

Canted Angle- a canted angle enhances the shot by making it look a bit chaotic and distorted. This angle makes the audience take a minute to adjust which can involve them more into the scene. The canted angle can be also used during an action to add thrill and suspense. This canted angle creates an unsettling feeling for the viewer by its distorted nature.

 

Movements:

Panning – the camera moves horizontally on screen. Either from left to right or vice versa. Usually used to introduce a setting and give the spectator a ‘look around’. However sometimes it’s used to ‘follow’ the character for example while running or a chase.  

Tilt- the camera moves vertically on the screen. From top to bottom or other way round. It is usually used to introduce someone important so it allows the spectator to see every aspect of them. It can also be used to make someone or something look superior and in power.

Zoom in/out- when the camera zooms in it’s usually to emphasize on something important. Can be a reaction to a significant event in the scene. On the other hand when the camera zooms out it’s often to show a change so the viewer can see it too. Zooming out can give the  better view and a sense of freedom as audience can choose what to look at because more objects come into view.

Crane- a crane shot is when the camera moves on the crane or a jib. It is usually used to make a shot from a large height. It also allows a flexible movement of the camera.

Hand Held- the camera is held by someone. It has a characteristic ‘shake’ to it which can make the frame distorted or look unprofessional. However sometimes it adds the thrill and chills to the scene because of the sense of uncontrollability.

Point of View- the camera represents what the character is seeing. It also lets the spectator look at things from theirs point of view. It creates the effect of being quite insecure as we are as exposed to danger as they are. We can feel vulnerable. A point of view can also put the viewer in the character ‘shoes’ making them feel in what the character is feeling.

Camera Sizes:

Establishing shot- usually used at the begging of the film or change of location to help establish the scene. It allows to see large space. The establishing shot from the Shutter Island displays the location clearly and helps to work out what’s going on and what are the potential risks.

Long shot- shows full body and some surroundings. Used to show more detail. Usually used during a run to show body language. This long shot was used in the film Se7en to show running Somerset.  This long shot is also taken at a canted angle making the scene even more chaotic and intense.

 

Medium shot- displays from waist up. It allows the audience to see some body language and facial expression as well as costume. It can make emphasis on one person. This medium shot from Saw is displaying one character allowing the spectator to see his emotion and situation.

 

 

Medium Close Up- shows body from breast level and up. Allows to see facial expression and puts one person onto the focus which makes them significant and worth of the spectator attention. This scene from Scream allows to see the female’s actions and reaction. We can clearly see the phone which holds a significance because of the medium close up emphasizes on it and she responds to it as well as she interacts with it.

Close Up- the close up shows a person from shoulders and up or a bit less. It focuses on one member precisely and allows to show full emotion by displaying clear facial expression and reaction. This will be mostly used when something of significance happens and emotions play a big part in the scene. A close up is used in the Black Swan. It allows the audience to see fear and horror as she is reacting to something.

 

Extreme Close Up- massive zoom into a specific part/action. Fully emphasizes on something of significance and importance so the audience will be able to differentiate the important shots. Also an extreme close up can show a part of a person in a large detail to express emotions and feelings. A use of such shot is shown in the thriller Knowing. The extreme close up emphasizes the significance of the numbers that play a big part in the film.

 

Over the Shoulder Shot- the shot is usually used during a conversation. The camera is placed behind the shoulder of the speaker allowing to see their facial expression and reaction of the listener. This is another shot from Wanted which allows to see the surprised and confused expression of the man listening to someone else.   

 

Two shot- the shot displays two objects/people at the equal ratio according to the rule of thirds. It allows the audience to see more than one person/thing during a conversation which can be helpful as the spectator sees two expressions at once. This two shot from Wanted allows to see two faces at time during a conversation which allows instant image of reaction from both speakers.

 

Rule of Thirds:

Rule of thirds is a principle of compositions in a photograph/shot.  It bases around breaking an image into 9 equal rectangles making it look like a grid. The theory claims that if we place the focus on one of the lines or the rectangular sections then the image/shot has a better balance and seems more natural. In addition some say it looks much more interesting than if placing the object in the center. Rule of thirds also allows to show more in one frame making the most of your picture.

 

 

 

Further Analysis of Different Cinematography Techniques:

 

A subverted high angle is used in this frame from the thriller Orphan. This is because usually a high angle makes someone look inferior and subordinate however looking at this image the audience can feel insecure and in danger. This can be caused by the threatening facial expression of the girl. Moreover the gender and age representations are subverted too. This is because stereotypically a young female is displayed as fragile and vulnerable and someone who cannot cause harm but in this shot she seems creepy and dangerous.  This unconventional shot makes the viewer question stereotypes and can make them confused which is quite thematic of a thriller genre.

 

The medium close up is used in this shot from the thriller Panic Room. It allows the viewer to see clear facial expression and little of body language. Through this shot we can tell that both females seem stuck with something or worried. This makes the viewer upset for them as stereotypically females are more vulnerable. The medium shot also allows us to see that they have light clothing which also disposes them to danger more as it will be easy to break through a slim layer. This makes the spectator intense and nervous as they are exposed to a threat. This is a conventional shot as the females are represented in stereotypical way which has an impact on the audience.

 

This point of view shot is taken from the Blair Witch Project. This shot shows an abandoned building which has been uncared for and looks unattractive. There are different chunks of the building which has decayed. The location is conventional to the thriller genre and gives the effect of suspense because it is unfamiliar to the viewer. The point of view also creates insecurity as we are put into the character shoes and perspective. This means that the audience is uninformed and defenceless as the character because we can expect anything to happen. This is makes the scene much more threatening which is a conventional theme of a thriller.
Cinematography Analysis from a Thriller Opening.

The opening scene from the thriller Memento has used the cinematography techniques effectively in order to provoke an audience response and create a meaning. In the first shot the audience sees a point of view is used on the photograph that someone is holding. The point of view allows the audience to see exactly what the character sees; putting the viewer in their shoes. As the scene develops the audience are exposed to a male character at a low angle; making the viewer look up to him and feel intimidated by his dominant look. In addition the low angle shows that he is in a position where others should be afraid of him which makes the spectator feel insecure and curious why he is such a powerful character. Moreover the extreme close up on a used bullet shows that it's significant because the director focuses on it in detail. The audience now assumes that the character probably murdered someone else which explains why the audience feared him so much and why the low angle was used to introduce him.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, looking in details about cinematography was very important because it’s one of the microelements which are necessary to complete the whole. Cinematography allows to present everything in the film world and it’s important to use it as efficiently as possible to receive the best outcome. From my research I have learned how to use cinematography in the best way to get best response from the spectator and create accurate character representation. This was beneficial as from now I have a better understanding of which techniques work best in some scenes but worse in others. I decided that using angles is a key part to represent the power of characters. Moreover I also got to know how to establish a scene however sometimes it is better to subvert these ideas to create confusion and engage the audience more. Therefore I decided that I will try to play with different cinematography techniques during my filming time so my opening will look interesting and stand out from the crowd.