Advanced Cinematography and Lighting Techniques

Catalog description

Advanced exploration in camera, lighting, audio, and color-grading techniques, emphasizing technical skills as well as aesthetics. COMM 440 Advanced Cinematography and Lighting Techniques (3)This course is a comprehensive approach to techniques, equipment and procedures of film and video production with an emphasis on both practical skills and aesthetics. The course is divided into four sections that will employ a combination of lectures and workshops in camera, lighting, audio and color grading. The course will focus on understanding the theory and procedures underlying dynamic composition, visual and psychological perspective, practical and emotive lighting and sound, color, and the conveyance of meaning through color and continuity. In addition, students will learn accepted procedures in care and use of film and video cameras, sound recording equipment, lighting and grip gear, as well as proper organization, media storage and maintenance techniques specific to post-production. Students will work individually and collaboratively to produce projects for critique and evaluation. The emphasis of the course is on the artistic and technical aspects that allow an idea to be cinematically realized on celluloid and/or a suitable digital format. The course involves viewing the work of outstanding, established cinematographers and videographers in great detail, and assessing their contributions to film aesthetics and history through the detailed, direct analysis of film excerpts and sequences from landmark films and video work, and the discussion of assigned reading materials on both film and video technique. Students then work in specific film and video production positions to reproduce precisely scenes from the films analyzed. By doing so, students will develop an understanding of the technology and artistic vision used in film and video production so that they may be better prepared to successfully create challenging and thought-provoking projects. In addition, this course also allows for an exploration and comparison of the ever-changing technology used in film and video production. Through this direct use of multiple visual and audio formats, students will discover the creative advantages and disadvantages of various media used to fulfill their artistic vision. COMM 440 is a support course for the senior level production courses. Student cinematographers in COMM 448 (Adv. Production for Groups) are strongly encouraged to take this course concurrently. It can also be taken as an elective technique course in conjunction with any of the one-semester mode specific advanced production courses ( COMM 437 , COMM 438 , or COMM 439 ).