Cinematography workshop

Cinematography workshop

Grant:
Instructional Development Fund (IDF)
Academic Year:
2014 - 2015 (June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2015)
Funding Requested:
$500.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
dholliso
Overview of the Project:
I am continuing development of a new course on cinematography for the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures. I am requesting $500 for the purchase of film stock and processing for students' use during three in-class workshops. The class is a hands-on exploration of the practice of 16mm motion picture photography where students will learn the technical and aesthetic demands of the craft. The use of analog film will encourage students to practice careful planning, gain intellectual and technical understanding of the medium, as well as strengthening their aesthetic instincts about the process of creating moving images. Students will also learn about of the evolution of motion picture technology as well as its relevance in the age of advancing digital technology.
Final Report Fields
Project Objectives:

Multiple in-class workshops allow students to practice with an unfamiliar medium and develop the technical and aesthetic skills necessary to create compelling images, while working in a controlled and supervised environment. The natural limitation imposed by analog film is such that the cinematographer has only a few minutes of “runtime” and therefore every second of filming is precious. By limiting the amount students are able to shoot in any one workshop, they will be compelled to approach the craft of image making in a more careful and studied manner than if they have an unlimited amount of rutime to “burn” (which is the case with video). This will enforce a practice based on specific planning that will give them a better instinctual understanding of cinematographic issues -exposure, latitude, lighting control, aesthetics and practicality- than the immediacy of video feedback and its abundance of runtime can provide.

Project Achievements:

Through these workshops the students have gained significant familiarity with 16mm film production, camera operation, exposure control, mechanics an aesthetics of lighting, lens selection, and collaboration in teams. This knowledge and its accompanying practical experience helps students become better film and moving-image makers. Their growing understanding of the various approaches to cinematography will provide additional skills, talents and "voices" to the already strong visual culture established in the Department of Screen Arts and Cultures.

Continuation:
No
Dissemination:
I had an informal meeting with faculty colleagues on Dec 12, 2014, where we discussed the results the students produced. The techniques practiced in the cinematography workshops facilitated positive results in the students' final course projects, which were screened for and were well received by in a large public audience.
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