Lecture 1

Question 1

How does 35mm Film work differently in a movie camera?

Answer 1

Film frames travel (wind) horizontally through 35mm camera.

In a movie camera however they travel vertically.

Question 2

What are the dimensions for a still frame 35mm?

Answer 2

36mm X 24mm

Question 3

What are the dimensions of a 35mm Movie frame?

Answer 3

22mm X16 mm

Question 4

What are the dimensions of a super 35mm movie?

Answer 4

24.89mm X 18.66mm

Common variant of 35mm movie with increased picture area/image quality.

Question 5

Advantages of using full frame 35mm:

Answer 5

Larger sensor = larger individual pixels.
So better quality images at higher ISO sensitivities, as the larger individual pixels can capture more light, resulting in less unwanted electronic noise encroaching into images.

a broader dynamic range makes them better equipped to capture the full brightness.

A full-frame camera allows you to take in more of the scene.

Question 6

Disadvantages of using a full frame 35mm

Answer 6

Expensive
Heavy
Big
Not good for working at a distance.

Question 7

What is aspect ratio?

Answer 7

The geometrical shape of the motion picture image.

Ratio is that of a horizontal plane : vertical plane

Question 8

How are aspect ratios presented?

Answer 8

Aspect ratios are commonly expressed as either whole units or decimal figures.

Originality ‘Academy Ratio’ is expressed as either 4:3 or 1: 1.33 but more accurately it is 1:1.37

Question 9

What does aspect ratio refer to?

Answer 9

Only to shape, regardless of screen size e.g phone, tablet, cinema.

It is a universal current standard shape of screen.

Question 10

Explain the aspect ratio example 16:9 a.k.a 1:1.78

Answer 10

The ratio of the horizontal plane is 16 units against a vertical plane of 9units whether the units are cm or metres or pixels.

Question 11

What are pixels?

Answer 11

A digital unit of picture resolution

Question 12

What does aspect ratio impact?

Answer 12

Image composition
Prestatyn: projection, screening, transmission, streaming.
Editing
Presentation of archive material

Question 13

Cinema aspect ratio

Answer 13

1:1.33/ 1.37 ‘academy’ closest to 4:3 original television/ computer screen.

Question 14

‘Academy Flat’ aspect ratio

Answer 14

1: 1.85

Closest to 16:9 dvd/ blue ray standard 1:1.78

Question 15

European matted ratio

Answer 15

16mm 1:1.66

Question 16

Common anamorphic / matted widescreen format

Answer 16

1: 2.35

Good for group dialogue shots and interiors.

Question 17

What are the two ways widescreen cinema is created?

Answer 17

Anamorphic

Matted

Question 18

What is anamorphic widescreen?

Answer 18

The widescreen frame is created by optically ‘squeezing’ the picture (exposing a distorted image’ onto a standard 35mm frame (4:3 aspect ratio) then I squeezing the picture during projection using a reverse-optic lens.

Question 19

What is Matted Widescreen?

Answer 19

The widescreen dean created simply by masking top and bottom area of the standard 35mm gran either camera or during projection.

Question 20

Aspect ratio of widescreen and masking area.

Answer 20

Area of widescreen projection/ transmission e.g 1:1.85

Black matted area of full (1:1.33) 35mm movie frame.

Question 21

What is HARD MATTE?

Answer 21

Widescreen created by masking in camera, imposing black bars that are permanently recorded into top & bottom of the picture. (This is done on DSLR video mode)

Digital cinema cameras may be switchable to allow recording in different aspect ratios.
I.e generating black bars off the top and bottom of the sensor, to record a permanent widescreen image.
E.g recording a 1.2.35 image off a standard 1:1.78 (16:9) sensor.

Question 22

Soft (or open) Matte

Answer 22

Widescreen indicates A’s frame guides only camera viewfinder (no recording of black bars) so masking is done during projection.

Originally used for cinema for projection.

Favoured for 4:3 commercial television transmission not supported by many film directors.

Question 23

What is pan and scan?

Answer 23

Pan and scan was a method or re-composing widescreen films for original 4:3 television transmission with the view of filling the square tv screen.

It’s a process of re framing and re cutting and new frame movements that filmmakers never intended.

Question 24

What is IMAX aspect ratio?

Answer 24

1: 1.43

Question 25

How are archive sources with different aspect ratios presented?

Answer 25

The difference in aspect ratio means it may need exploration of the image through close up camera motion previously ROSTRUM CAMERA, now MOTION GRAPHICS. This is dramatised enhancement/intensification of still image content, supported by voice, sound, music.

Question 26

What is the advantage of anamorphic widescreen?

Answer 26

You don’t have to throw any of the information or cut anything out.

Question 27

What determines picture quality?

Answer 27

Video compression 
Colour (bit depth and sampling - range and accuracy of colour) 
Lighting 
Lens quality 
Motion and shooting methods

Question 28

What is a clapper board?

Answer 28

It is used to sink up the video with the audio. This is done because both are recorded with different devices and in post production they need to be put together.