2015-16 Level 2 Media: Week 2: Camerawork & Meaning, Narrative in Film & TV Drama

Session 1. Objective - to practically demonstrate teamwork in producing a sequence of shots

Pass: to describe and frame a variety of shots and angles correctly in a sequence
Merit: to explain the use of shots in the sequence in creating character and representation
Distinction: to practically demonstrate understanding through shot types, movement and angles

Extension: investigate and outline continuity, blocking and composition techniques

New info: meaning through camera shots clip

Framing the Shot and Camera Angles from Brandi Kruse on Vimeo.

Blocking

Intimate Blocking – By placing your actors close together, their proximity to each other generates a clear feeling of intimacy within the frame. Below is an example of Katniss and Peeta’s budding romance from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (courtesy of panemproppaganda.com):

Distant Blocking – On the other hand, you can’t expect two people on opposite sides of a room with a curtain in between to convince the audience that they are falling madly in love. Their positioning creates distance between them. Distant Blocking is usually reserved for the likes of a dramatic moment. The polarity of the image ups the tension. Below is an example of Katniss and Peeta when they are first reaped for the Hunger Games (courtesy of aworldoftales.com):

Your coverage of the scene means which shots you select to shoot. It is important to have an eye-pleasing variety and avoid boring back-and-forth exchanges. You want to use the camera to create a dramatic feeling, whether it is love or distance. Our conduit to communicate these feelings is our lens choice and how we use them, so choose wisely. While you study how to film a movie, it might not be a bad idea to go through some of your favorite films and see what they did to understand their shot and lens choice.

3 Lighting:

Find examples of different types of lighting in Breaking Bad and explain the effect.

Lighting (high key, low key, hard, soft , natural, artificial),

Find examples of the following in Lock stock vs Skins and other productions if necessary:

High Key Lighting

Low Key Lighting

Hard/Soft Light

Task: Filming in studio with level 3s, look at angles & shots etc. 'Passing notes' storyboard
Discuss and demonstrate 180 degree rule & rule of thirds

Evaluate shots from Last week and compare framing & continuity

Plenary: cinematography quiz

Session 2.
Objective: To examine aspects of camerawork for meaning and construct practically

Pass: to analyse (infer or suggest) meaning to characters and mood

Merit: to analyse meaning from all aspects of camerawork, MES with detailed examples

Camerawork New info

Lighting

Blocking

Framing (rule of thirds)

Colour filters

Depth of field

Starter practical camerawork task