Foundation
Cinematography
Course
This cinematography course will cover everything in the elementary course in more depth and with extended practical exercises. You will learn about different lighting techniques and situations such as, studio lighting, classical lighting, location lighting and how to manipulate them. Each will be supported with extended practical sessions. You will also learn how to operate track and trolley, gimbals, sliders and more. Each student will prepare and shoot 1 short non-fiction film and 1 short fiction film.
Duration: 16 days Mentor: Lalit Tewari Pune, India
Course Content:
- What is Cinematography? Role of a Cinematographer.
- Still Image Formation: Composition Elements, Painting and other Visual Media, Color Theory and more.
- Exercise: Make 5 – 10 Still images using classical rules of composition.
- Exercise: Make 5 – 10 Still images using classical rules of composition.
- Human Visual System and Anatomy of a Digital Camera: Lens (Fundamentals of Optics), Differential Focus, Depth of Field and more.
- Exercise: Understanding the use of different lenses for visual effects ( Depth of Field and Differential Focus Exercise)
- Lens and Manipulation of Perspective in Moving images: Understanding different kinds of Shot Making with examples from films.
- Ex. Camera Movement: Shot Design and using pan and tilt camera operations.
- Film Screening and analysis relating to camera and character movement.
- Ex. Camera Movement: Using Sliders, Track and Trolley Gimbals, Hand held Camera Movements and more.
- Space and Light: Properties of Light, Visible Color Spectrum, Light Ratios and Contrast, Color Temperature, Light Design, Ambient lighting and more.
- Controlling Natural/ Ambient Light: Understanding natural light sources and when to use them.
- Creative Lighting Techniques: Lighting for different times of the day, Creative Moods, Lighting contrasts, Creating space through lighting, Creating Emotions for the narrative. (Theory and Practicals)
- Basics of Digital Cinematography: Digital Sensor, RAW, Video Sampling, Log, Gamma, Exposure Aids, Waveform Monitor and more.
- Understanding new age digital cinema acquisition: Post-production Image
- Color Correction: DI/ Color Correction, Post image manipulations and more.
Cinematography Lighting Techniques:
Each of the following topics will be taught in theory followed by demonstrations and practicals. Film clips will be shown as examples for certain sessions:
- Space and Light: Properties of Light, Visible Color Spectrum, Light Ratios and Contrast, Color Temperature, Light Design, Ambient lighting and more.
- Controlling Natural/ Ambient Light: Understanding natural light sources and when to use them, Light bouncing techniques for natural light.
- Introduction to Artificial Light Sources: Light units, Electricity, Light bulbs, Usages and Importance of different Color Temperatures in Image Making.
- Classical Lighting: Single point lighting system, 3-Point lighting system, Source lighting.
- Creative Lighting Techniques: Lighting for different times of the day, Creative Moods, Lighting contrasts, Creating space through lighting, Creating Emotions for the narrative.
- Final Lighting Exercise: Location / Studio Lighting
- Working with a light plan: Light Design for a dialogue sequence with a minimum of two characters and having at least 3 shots
Final Exercise:
Each student will develop a 2 short projects (non-fiction and fiction) to shoot under the guidance of our mentor. The exercise will be broken down into 5 steps:
- Ideation: Develop a workable project through discussions with the mentor and fellow students.
- Visit location: Recce, take stills and create a Story Board.
- Plan for Shoot: Create Shot Divisions and Schedule.
- Individual Shoot: Execute the shooting for the film.
- Review: Every film will be assessed by the mentor and feedback will be given.
Course Structure:
The 16-day course will be broken down into three sections:
- The first 9.5 days will focus on the essential concepts of cinematography
Each day in this section will have a lecture/theory session in the morning followed by practical exercises regarding the same for the remainder of the day. There will also be film screenings during certain sessions. - During the next 5.5 days the students will develop and shoot their own projects under the guidance of the mentor.
- On the final day, every student’s project will be screened and discussed.
Students are required to have:
1. DSLR Camera
2. Tripod (optional)
13 - 28 June
10:00am to 06:00pm
(hours may extend)
Rs. 37000/-
Early Bird Offer: Rs.32000/-
(Offer Valid till 3rd June/ first 8 seats)
Total Seats: 10
Upcoming Workshop
<< Upcoming Workshop
Mentor
Over the past 23 years Lalit Tewari, an independent cinematographer has worked on a wide range of productions, from ad films and TV shows to feature films and documentaries. He approaches every new project with gusto and is always looking for opportunities to challenge himself and learn something new. Learning, Lalit believes is a lifelong process and the only way one can gain vitality in any walk of life.
Having accumulated a vast pool of knowledge and experience, Lalit has also been teaching for the past few years. He was an Associate Professor in the Cinematography department at FTII, Pune for 8 years. He has conducted short cinematography courses at Bhavan’s College; SIES; Wilsons College; IIT, Mumbai; NID; MIT and Living Bridge, Pune.
“Inspiring passionate students to pursue a career in filmmaking would be one of my biggest achievements”, says Lalit. He believes it is his duty to share his expertise with budding filmmakers and show them the path to achieve their goals.
Lalit Tewari holds a Diploma in Cinematography (FTII, 1996) and a Masters Degree in Ancient Indian History and Archeology (Kumaon University, 1992). He has worked on films such as: “Earth Movers”, “Weather Report”, “The Fluid City”, “Ek Haseena Thi”, “Partners in Crime” and many more.
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