Research: Cinematography - Miss Begum

What is cinematography? 

Cinematography is the way in which the camera is used to communicate meaning through the use of angle, movement and shot sizes that are manipulated to make good effect on for the audience which will make them feel excited and thrilled, depending on the scene. Cinematography is categorized into three different sub-techniques which are shot sizes, movement and angle. 

Shot Sizes:

Extreme close up – an extreme close up is used to emphasis the emotion and detail of the image to allow the audience to have a clear understanding. Also is used to maintained focus on that particularly image. 

Close up – a close up is a shot where you can see the whole face. This allow the viewers to emphasis toward the facial expression of the character and emotion. 

Medium close up – a medium close up is used to show action and facial expression so it have its own balance. This allow the audience to understand the action of the character and whats is going on into the scene.

Medium shot – a medium shot is used to demonstrate the facial expression, the action and the clothes of the character to allow the audience to see and emphasis the type of character such as protagonist or antagonist. It doesn't mainly focus in only one thing but more, so the audience will have a clear understanding.

Long shot – a long shot is used to indicate the full body language of the character, also it shows a bit of surrounding to allow the audience comprehend the action and location of the scene. 

Establishing shot – an establishing shot is usually used at the opening of the scene to represent the location and emphasis the possibility of danger in that situation. 

Over shoulder shot – the over shoulder shot is usually used during a conversation so they will be able to see who is speaking during the conversation and who is listening, which will create more understanding to the audience.

Two shot – the two shot is typically used during a discussion to show how the characters react on the situation they are put on.

Angles:

High angle – the high angle is mostly used to make the character seen inferior and powerless. This angle is usually used when the character is in trouble or oppress by more dominant character.

Low angle – the low angle is used to make the character seen vigorous and in control of the situation. This angle is typically used when the character is dominating and leading the other character.

Canted angle – the canted angle is when the camera is oblique and at a slight angle. This makes the scene look confused and chaotic.

Movements:

Panning – the panning shot is when the camera is moving across this allows the audience to fallow the character in the way he is going.  

Tilt – the tilt shot is when the camera is moving up and down which it introduce the audience a powerful character. 

Crane – the crane shot is when the camera move in a flexible way which makes the audience have a better and clear of the location of the scene. 

Zooming in/out – the zooming in shot is used to make the audience emphasis about this particular situation whereas the zooming out.

Hand held – the hand held shot is when the character is holding the camera, this is usually used to create excitement and chill to the audience. 

Point of view - the point of view is when the audience see what the character is watching which makes the audience feel engaged and anxious. 

THE GALLOWS EXAMPLE (HAND HELD AND POINT OF VIEW):

In this video it's noticeable that hand held movements it being utilize. This movement allows the audience to put them self in the characters shoes which create adrenaline and excitement as the audience are experiencing the events that the characters is having to deal with. Also we can see that point of view is applied in the scene to make the audience see what the protagonist can visualize which build suspense and frustration to the spectators. This is usually used in horror-thriller movie as the movements creates more frightfulness and anxiety response from the audience.

PANIC ROOM EXAMPLE (CRANE, TILT, PANNING AND ZOOMING):

In this scene it's visible that the main movement is the crane shot used. This allows the audience see where the action is taking place clearly, and gives the scene have a fluent look. Furthermore, a zooming in is used toward the main door showing a characters breaking the handler of the house, which make the audience witness that he is the antagonist ready to kill someone. However, as he is unable to break the handler he try to attempt another way to enter inside the house. This is shown when he walks towards other doors with a panning shot, as he goes upstairs a tilt is shown the demonstrate where the antagonist is going. This allow the audience to follow the steps the antagonist is making to engage the viewers and make them feel excited which is conventional a thriller movie as the theme of mystery and robbery is presented.

SIN CITY OPENING SCENE ANALYSIS:

From the 'Sin City' opening scene we can see that different types of cinematography techniques has been used. Firstly the audience is introduced with an establishing shot slightly mixed with a high angle when the female character is walking on her way. The establishing shot help the audience emphasis that she is in a rooftop which suggests that the character wants to be isolated and in peace. Also from her red dress the audience can witness that she is a target. The slight high angle helps the audience understand that she is inferior as something negative will happen which makes the audience feel nervous for the female victim's life. Furthermore, when the male character is introduced offering the victim a cigarette, a close up is applied to focus on her facial expression. As she smoke, her eyes changes colour as she inhale the smoke. The green color in her eyes suggests toxic which foreshadows her death. As the scene progress, a slow zooming in is used to put the spectator's concentration on the two characters. This makes the audience infer that they both have feelings for each other. Lastly, a tilt shot is utilize when the antagonist kills the victim. This movements shows that even if the antagonist murder the victim he still feel sorry for her, this can be also justified by the use of an aerial shot demonstrating the antagonist holding the dead body of the female characters. This help emphasis that he doesn't want to let go her, which makes the audience feel curious as they do not know why he killed her. This opening scene is conventional to a thriller genre as the theme of death and mystery is presented.


Conclusion:

In conclusion this research was useful because I understand every cinematography techniques in detail. For my scene I will be using different shot to make the sequence look professional as possible. The shot that I will mostly use are establishing, long, close up and medium shot to create meaning and response from the audience, I was also thinking about using canted and low angle to make characters seen powerful yet in distress,I might also use point of view and crane shot to create anxiety and put the audience in the characters's shoes so they will be more likely to be more effected.