CINEMATIC COMPOSITION

Cinematographer Cinematographer=

also known as Director of Photography (DP)

Responsible for artistic and technical decisions related to images captured on screen

In charge of camera crews, lighting crews, etc.

The Big Picture

Every shot the cinematographer makes must be designed with the goals of cinematic composition in mind.

Especially attendant to the Mise-en-Scene!

Sunset Boulevard - Billy Wilder (1950)

Goals of cinematic composition

Goal 1: Directing attention to the object of greatest significance

Road to Perdition – Sam Mendes (2002)American Beauty, Revolutionary Road,Skyfall

Goals of cinematic composition Goal 2: Keeping the image in constant

motion

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – Stephen Spielberg (2008)

Goals of cinematic composition Goal 3: Creating an illusion of depth

Hugo – Martin Scorsese (2011)

Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, The Departed, Shutter Island, Gangs of New York…

Let’s see a Clip!

Size and Closeness of an Object

Normally the eye is directed toward larger and closer objects rather than smaller and distant objects.

Foreground= closer to the camera, thus larger

Background= further from the camera, thus smaller

Foreground versus Background in V for Vendetta (2005, James McTeigue)

Foreground versus Background in V for Vendetta (2005, James McTeigue)

Sharpness of Focus The eye is drawn to what it can see best Sharp Focus= image that is clear Soft Focus= image that is blurry

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006 – Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy)

Sharpness of Focus May overrule foreground/background rule

Movement

Objects in motion draw the eye A moving object can divert our attention

from a static one Constant movement in the background may

not divert our attention from the still but more important objects in the foregroundChariots of Fire

(1981 – Hugh Hudson)

Extreme Close-Up

Objects featured in extreme close-up give the audience nothing else to see!

Arrangement

There are no specific positioning formulas, but a director will arrange people and objects in relation to each other.

Possibilities: Symmetry Pyramid Balance

Symmetrical Arrangement

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Stanley Kubrick2001, Dr. Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange

Pyramid ArrangementReservoir Dogs (1992– Quentin Tarrantino)

Balanced Arrangement

Dynamic Arrangement

The Hunger Games (2012) (Gary Ross)Seabiscuit, Pleasantville

Framing

Think of a picture frame. Draws attention to the object of greatest

significance, the object being framed May add symbolism

Framing

Lighting and Color

Used for focus, symbolism, emphasis, etc. Light versus DarknessEstablishes Contrast

Color

Schindler’s List (1993 – Spielberg)

Dramatic Lighting

Citizen Kane

Contrast