Required Skills of a Cinematographer

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 383.

Postproduction

Production

The cinematographer coordinates the crew and works with the director to make sure each scene is set up and shot to match the director's vision of the story. For each scene, the cinematographer decides on the best combination of cameras, filters and lenses, as well as where the cameras will be placed, what the lighting should be and when the scene will be shot. On large films, several cinematographers may oversee different camera set-ups. Others may serve as second-unit directors, shooting background or locations without the actors. The director of photography oversees them all, often also managing the photography budget.

The cinematographer works with the processing lab to make sure the film retains the color and mood that he and the director wanted. The cinematographer also reviews dailies, as well as the first and final print of the film. Being a critical eye and part of quality control is important throughout postproduction.

Whether a cinematographer is a director of photography or a camera operator, he needs both creative and technical skills to succeed, as well as knowledge of the most up-to-date equipment and technology and the flexibility to change and work as a particular film or the movie industry requires.

Here are some of the most important cinematographer skills:

• Having a good artistic eye for photography, or in other words, being able to frame shots and recognize good shots, as any photographer would.

• Knowing the technical basics of photography – how to make lighting work to your advantage, how to use lenses, and how film speeds and exposures work.

• Having knowledge of film-specific photography equipment and techniques, such as film cameras on dollies, hand-held cameras, the Steadicam and blue screen. This includes both set-up and operation.
• Being experienced with the filmmaking process from preproduction through postproduction, including working with a film house to prepare the final print.
• Being able to collaborate with a movie director in developing an artistic vision for a film and then producing it.
• Having the flexibility and problem-solving skills to handle production when scenes don't go as planned due to weather, equipment problems, budget limitations or artistic changes. This includes being able to make fast, instinctive decisions about which film, technique or equipment works best for a particular scene.
• Keeping up with ever-changing advances in film technology and knowing when to shift to or drop in new technology instead of the old.
• Being able to manage a budget and staff, and coordinate with other departments like lighting, to keep production running smoothly.

Because filmmaking is a collaborative art, bringing many people together in the production process, a cinematographer needs the ability to get along and work with everyone. As cinematographer John Schwartzmann phrases it in the book "100 Careers in Film and Television," "The most important skill that you need to be successful in the film business is to be able to play well with others."

Summary.The director of photography has a lot of responsibilities.

During pre-production he

• discusses the director's vision of the film with him scene by scene
• determines what they need for each scene, within budget
• hires the camera crew
• finds equipment

During production the DP:

• coordinates the crew
• works with the director
• decides on the best combination of cameras, filters and lenses for each scene
• determines where to place the cameras, what the lighting should be and when to shoot the scene
• watches dailies

During post-production the director of photography:

• works with the processing lab
• watches the first and final print of the film

No matter whether a cinematographer is a director of photography or a cameraman, he needs creative and technical skills and knowledge.

A cinematographer should:

• have a good artistic eye for photography, i.e. recognize good shots
• know the technical basics of photography
• know film-specific photography equipment and techniques, such as film cameras on dollies, hand-held cameras, the Steadicam and blue screen
• be able to collaborate with a movie director
• be flexible, because scenes don't always go as planned
• coordinate with other departments

And of course, a cinematographer should have good communication skills because he needs to collaborate with everyone.