Books

For reference. I don’t think you need to buy these!

• Cinematography Theory and Practice

• Set Lighting Technician's Handbook

• John Berger's book: ways of seeing

1. Lenses + Shot Direction

Framing

• Close Up

• Medium - Close Up 

• Medium 

• Cowboy (includes enough thigh to show the holster of a gun) 

• OTS (less movement on person near camera)

• Wide shot/ long shot. (full body)

Crop mid limb. Don’t crop at joints!

The camera sees micro expressions

“The subtle art of doing nothing.” Do as little as possible. 

"You must fight the tears. And when you fight the tears, the audience will cry for you." Michael Caine

Index Vectors

Cinematographer interview with John Seale, "This was the formula that was punched into us, The goodies always go left-to-right and the baddies always go right-to-left.” Spotify Link: Team Deakins: John Seale - Cinematographer

Michael Caine: Looking into the near eye of your scene partner with your far eye, additional option Link 2

2. Lighting/ Self Tapes:

AUDIO: we didn’t get around to this, but it’s a big one!
Wireless Lavalier for better audio in self tapes. fairly easy to conceal, instantly syncs and quickly connects to phone Amazon

Far side/ reverse key light. More pleasing than nearside key. See sample photos below.

Self Tape Camera Perspective

“What movie am I making relating to tone and style?”

“Who is with me in this scene?”

“What the camera perspective represents”

Examples of daring audition tapes

Josh Brolin Audition

Dacre Montgomery Audition

Acting reference: Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons story as told by Edward Norton. Spotify Link:  Off Camera with Sam Jones: Edward Norton

3. Conversations on Set with a Director of Photography

• The camera is an extension of your performance. Blocking, perspective, lighting, etc

• Actors should know if a DP gives you a piece of direction, it’s in service to the actor 

• Asking for privacy, to clear the room of production people. Clearing your eye line

• Finding your light. Take a look at how lighting plays on your face

• Actors to DP’s: “boom camera up” to get camera higher on the eyes

• Asking your make-up artist for an opinion and eyes on the monitor. Intermediary to DP

4. Know the Lens and Hit Your Marks 

Hitting your marks example. Camera framing and moves. Sample from Jaws

Wide lens, close up. Emma Stone in Birdman

Know your lens, Tom Cruise on Jack Nicholson