Cinematography

Question 1

Frame dimensions and shape: aspect ratio

Answer 1

• 1.37:1 - Academy ratio (Citizen Kane, Heroes for Sale, Scarface)
• 1.66:1 - European widescreen (Kiss Me Deadly)
• 1.85:1 - North American widescreen (Vertigo, Psycho, Malcolm X)
• 2.39:1 - CinemaScope anamorphic widescreen (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith)
• 1.78:1 - Hi Def television aspect ratio is a compromise halfway between the European and U.S. standards

Question 2

The range of tonalities:

Answer 2

color grading, contrast, and exposure

Question 3

Special effects

Answer 3

• matte paintings in The Empire Strikes Back (view behind-the-scenes documentary from 45:44)
• superimposition (composite shot): The Empire Strikes Back
• rear projection: Vertigo and Notorious
• front projection: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Question 4

Framing: camera position:

Answer 4

• angle (straight-on, low angle, high angle)
• level (level/parallel to the horizon, or canted)
• distance (close-up CU, medium shot MS, long shot LS)
• height (eye height, high camera height, low camera height)

Question 5

Perspective

Answer 5

• the lens: focal length: affects the size and proportions of things we see, and how much depth
• wide angle lens (short focal length): deep depth of field, exaggerates depth, distortion in frame
• telephoto lens (long focal length): narrower view, shallow depth of field, compresses depth
• normal or medium lens (middle focal length): a compromise between the above attributes

Question 6

More on perspective

Answer 6

• the lens: depth of field and focus
• deep depth of field (many planes in focus) vs. shallow depth of field (few/one plane in focus)
• racking or pulling focus

Question 7

Speed of motion:

Answer 7

24 frames per second is standard motion; 12 fps fast motion, 64 fps slow motion

Question 8

Camera movement (the mobile frame)

Answer 8

• pan, tilt, dolly/tracking, crane, zoom

Question 9

The long take:

Answer 9

• a shot that lasts onscreen for an unusually long duration
• not to be confused with the ‘long shot’, which is a term used to describe a full-figure framing
• often incorporates elaborate staging and camera movement, to achieve different framings over time
  (since no editing is used)
• can “democratize” the frame, to a certain extent, giving the audience options of what to look at
• uses offscreen vs. onscreen space in careful ways
• requires intense choreography, practice, and orchestration of mise-en-scène elements

Question 10

Clip Analysis

Answer 10

• the work of Orson Welles: Citizen Kane
• review of the long take in Notorious
• long takes in the gangster genre: Scarface, The Godfather
• long takes in the age of digital VFX: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith