Lighting is one of the most important, and lucky for us one of the easiest, aspects of film. After the workshops, we all have a better understanding of key light, back light, and fill light. This will help to recognize different lighting techniques in films we watch from here on out and hopefully fill our heads with ideas to use for our own short films later in the semester.
Along with lighting, photography aspects such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO will help us create a one-of-a-kind film that expresses tones and themes the way we imagine it will. For example, if we wanted to focus on a particular person or object in a scene and blur out everything else, we can change our f-stop from something like f/4 to f/28. What this does is make the hole (aperture) bigger which decreases the depth of field. The smaller the depth of field, the less there is is focus. Using shutter speed and ISO we can affect how much light is let in and how sensitive the camera is to that light, respectively. The techniques become very important when trying to create a mood based on lighting.
These photography techniques along with lighting will definitely be in our reach when our small groups get to work on our short films. The photography techniques are easily controlled with the equipment we will be using and lighting is not hard to get. It will be really important that the camera person know how the different aspects of photography fit together so that the effects are filmed with the footage and the editor doesn't have to work extra hard to get the footage to say something that wasn't actually filmed. For example, it wouldn't be very fun for the editor to try and make a few minutes of footage look darker and gloomier than it currently is just because the camera person didn't know how to to it while filming. It will definitely be a lesson in team work and efficiency!
It will be fun to try and imitate some of the dramatic film noir effects that were used in Sunset Boulevard. The stark contrast of black and white with deep shadows and creative lighting really made Sunset Boulevard the uneasy yet melodramatic film that it was.
I can't wait to watch more films and get more ideas about how to make it say what you want it to say!
I agree with you about everyone needing to work together while also doing their individual jobs well. I don't think I'd be able to handle the camera with all of the different buttons and manual options available on it. However, hopefully someone in my group will want to do it!
ReplyDeleteI knew lighting was important to movies, but, before this class, I didn't know about the different kinds of lighting and how they could be used to emphasize a character of backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have a good understanding of photography and how the aspects of photography work together. I understood what Eric was saying but I wasn't sure if I could utilize those techniques correctly. I'm glad you're on my team!
Do you think color or black&white is a choice you'll make? What might influence that choice?
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