camera studies

8/9/2019 Camera Studies

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A film in 5 minutes 15 January 2015

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Camera StudiesA Film In 5 Minutes

This is an introduction to camerastudies. As part of the 'A Film in 5Minutes' process. Led by GavinBrocker.


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There are some key factors that need constant attention when

being the photographer or camera operator.

There are loads of di!erent types of lenses for

cameras which change how much light is let into

the camera. Primeor Fixedlenses range in

angles but aren't adjustable like a zoom lens.

Other names known for the lenses are called

'Bottles'

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The Camera

ight let into the camera

focus and sharpness

size of the picture

Lenses


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Mounts are equipment that you can put a camera on and

normally allows it to have a steadier movement and allows thecamera to go if di!erent places like in the air which are out of

human reach.

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Mounts


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There are di!erent types of mic ones that are built into the

camera called 'on!board' microphones that usually pick up a

lot of noise from movement of the camera. There are mics that

are 'external' which are better when recording because you

can get close to the actor and the boom doesn't pick up a lot of

ru"ed sounds. If there is poor sound this can always be edited

in post production.

Post !Syncingis when an actor goes into a booth and has to

re create the sound to what they are saying. Example if the

scene was outside and the sound was mu"ed then the actor

would need to say the dialogue to match the picture.

Wild!Trackis any sound including dialogue, it's to re create

the ambience of where the scene was shot for example tra#c

or background chatter. This helps in editing to balance out the

background noise levels.

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Sound


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Dubbingis where sound is added or when original dialogue is

changed. Dubbed can also be changing films from one language

to another.

Foley Artistescreate noises or special e!

ects to go along withthe picture such as someone walking on gravel.

ADR "Additional Dialogue Recording#creates sound

e!ects to add ambience or background dialogue to crowd

scenes.

A short hand held boom is called a fish poleand often

mounted on a tall trolley. The furry object on the mic is to stop

wind ba$e.

Light is used to:

Illuminate // highlight and shadows modelling // create

climate // create atmosphere // natural e!ects: Fire // decorate //

add glamour

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Lighting


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Lights come in all di!erent shapes and sizes.

2k, 5k, inky, blonde, redhead, wok and brute.

Gels can go in from of the lights to create di!erent colours.Barn doors are often attached to the lamps so that it can trim

light and control when the light is falling.

Goboa screen cut out of shapes like a gel which goes in front

of the light to create pictures such as prison doors.

The two major lighting situations to look out for are DAYand

NIGHT.

Neutral Density Filters "ND#removes very bright light like

sunshine.

White Balanceis when the camera takes in the lighting state

for the shot which is often done by putting a white sheet of

paper in front of the camera and focusing to get the whitest

point. It's so that the background and light that's emitted into

the camera is the same so the subjects stand out more and are

in focus.

Film is shot on:

16mm, super 16mm or 35mm !occasiona"y 72mm#

VHS, super VHS, HI8 are types of cassette that the film and be

stored in to be recorded on.

Tv screens are shot in 4 by 3, wide screen shot is 16 by 9.

6CameraMovement


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Titling

Pivots up and down

Panning

Pivots left to right

Tracking in

Moves toward subject

Tracking out

Moving away from subject

Crabbing

Right angles to subject

Elevating

Rises upwards

Depressing

Drops downwards

Zooming$manipulating the optics of the lens.

Subjects close to the camera are called closeor foreground

"fg#and subjects in the back are deeporbackground "bg#

Bananaringwhen the actors moves in a curved line instead of

straight and the camera is still, example the subject walking

into shot.

There are many di!erent shot sizes.

LS// long shot// from a distance

WS //wide shot//whole width and height of subject

MWS// medium wide shot// whole of the human figure

MLS// medium long shot// " " "

MS// mid shot// from the waist up

MCS// medium close shot// from the chest up

MCU// medium close up// " " "

CU// close up// chin to top of head

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BCU// big close up// one feature $eyes

Group/S//group shot// a whole team in shot, around a table

3/S// three shot// three subjects in shot Tom$dick $Harry

2/S// two shot// two subject in shot Tom $Harry

O/S 2/S// over the shoulder two shot// over sullivans shoulder

X2/S// Cross 2/S//

Single// just solo shot

A picture leaning to one side is called cantedor Dutch

Crossing the line

The camera need to be on the symmetric side for a O/s 2/S

other wise if the camera if on the wrong shoulder the subjects

will look like they are looking in the same direction. As though

they were in a line and don't give the right illusion. The camera

operator would need to get the shot from both subjects

shoulders closed to the camera if we were to take a shot

looking at them like in this example.

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Cast and

Crew


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PAcan stand forProduction Associate, Production Assistant,

Producer's Assistant or Personal Assistant.

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Audienceare the people who watch you

Thecompanythe performers you work with

! Executive Producerthey initiates a production, acquires

the message budget, appoints a producer and brings in big

stars.

LegalDepartmentlook at the rights and legal qualities to

putting out the film

AccountsDepartmentlook at the budget for the

production

! Producertime is money, look after the image side of theproduction, such as cast that's popular. Responsible for the

quality of the programme,budget control. Style and taste,

health and safety and legal and public relations. They cast the

major roles and appoint directors.

! Line Producer / Production Manger /Associate

Producer authorise expenditure, and deals with problems

on behalf of the producer.

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Directorhas the overall vision of what they want to show tolook like and how the want the actors journey to unravel.

Scripteditoredits script.

! CastingDirectorauditions actors for the roles of the

production

Designer

Production Co$ordinator

! Production Assistant PAtime scripts, types schedules,notes Continuity slate and takes, times scenes calls shots

during production. Clears copyright, attends editing.

! Continuity// ScriptSupervisormake sure there is a

smooth Segway from shot to shot and that nothing has

changed to words in the script and what the actors does on

each movement. Which line the actor sits on to how much

beer they drink or how much they smoke.

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! FirstADruns the whole show calls the shots and gets both

cast and crew ready and liaises with many departments. Calls

'that's a wrap' when finishing shooting.

2ndADcreate call times for the actors and sets up meetings.LocationMangerfinds location to film

! Stage Mangerorganise rehearsals, supervise props, helps

with cueing.

! AssistantStageManagerassists the stage manger,

marking, assist with props, look after the book and prompt

actors.

! Runner "3rd AD#right hand man to the first AD and run

to get actors and help run getting objects and liaise with

other departments.

Costume Designerdesigns the costumes and the vision of

how the actors should look

! Wardrobe Supervisorthey ensure the correct Continuity

for costume is maintained.

! Make!Up Artists apply make up to the actors liaising

mainly with the designers to what they want. Wigs, haircutsand special make up e!ects like words, tears and scars.

! Hairdressersdoes the actors hair, can be specific to period

times.

! Director of Photography "DOP#/ Lighting Designer

have the vision of the bigger picture about the shot, taking

into account the three main factors to the camera, light,

focus and size. Liaises with the director.

!

Camera Operatoroperates the camera and tries to deliverthe vision that the DOP has for the shot.

Camera Assistantassists the camera operator by carrying the

equipment and assistant if hand held.

Focus Pullermaintains the pictures sharpness also doubles up

as the 1st camera assistant. Manipulates the focus during a take

so that the shot is alway sharp.

Clapper Loaderwrites the take, slate and scene and slams

the clapper.

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Griphelps set up the equipment such as the dolly and getting

the equipment ready to start the filming process.

! Sound Recordistrecords the sound wild tracks, e!ect and

carry and operate the tale machines.! Sound Assistant / Boom Operatorhold the microphone

in place and listens to the sounds, they should also be

familiar with the script so that they favour the actor

speaking.

Technical Manager

Riggersrig the equipment

Ga%erresponsible for the execution of the lights and

sometimes the look

Charge Hand "'Best Boy'#in charge of the riggers but

assists the head of lighting

Electricians "'Sparks'#the people who are on hand in case

anything goes technically wrong that needs fixing electrically.

Design Assistant

Charge Hand

Operatives %'Scenes'&

Charge Hand in charge of props

Operatives %'Props'&

Wranglercontrols the animals

Studio and Location

Feature films are made on sound stages. Exterior sites within

a film complex are called lotslike the outside exterior on soaps

like Emmerdale.

Pre!Production

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ProductionMethods


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The production can not take place until it is given the Green

Light. Months are spent finding locations, making schedules,

designing sets and costumes and obviously casting the

performers

Rehearsals

As actors you normally only get a read through and a couple of

rehearsals before you are filming. Multi camera productions

have rehearsals for the camera operators know the production

like Mrs Browns Boys. One week of rehearsals usually add up

to half an hour of programme length. Directors will block

scenes on set with the actors.

Multi!Camera Shooting

The director plan the blocking with the actors in rehearsal and

write a camera script which is usually very detailed. Edited

shots in real time are called vision mixing, this enables music

and sound e!ects to be played at the same time.

Single !Camera Shooting

As cameras got lighter this gave more opportunity for enabling

TV to film on location like films, The Bill is a good example.

These can be filmed in a set called 'four wallers' instead of

three pretend walls in a studio.

Shots, Takes and Slates

Shotis a section of the script with a particular view. Each shot

that is a success is called a take.

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Pros

The actors get an uninterruptedperformance.

More economical with little costs.

ConsUnavailability of good camera angles.


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Slate numbersstart at 1 and continuing upwards until the

end of the production, slate indicates the separate shot,

involving the change of size, action, text and photography.

Take Director indicates they have finished rehearsal

First AD announces 'stand by, we're going from a take'

makes sure everyone is ready

First AD calls 'turning over'

Camera operator calls 'camera rolling' or 'speed'

Clapper calls 'mark it'

Sound recordist will call 'sound running'

First AD when satisfied called 'action'

Directors calls 'cut'

In studios there is a red light and bellthat is routine to show

at the beginning and end of a take.

Editing

Cuttingused 99'of the time

Mixing "dissolving#indicates flashbacks and emphasis slow

gentle moodiness.

Fade to black / fade uplong time lapse and separation of

ideas

DVE "Digital Video E%ect#used in pop music, advertising

and sport

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WorkingActor


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Actors Should's: Read call sheets carefully

Be fit

Be punctual

Be cheerful

Be co-operative

Know your lines

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