Genius Of Moving Image 2

What is the role of the cinematographer in film making?


The role of a cinematographer is to control how the shot looks. The cinematographer is responsible to make the Director's wish happen. This involves choosing equipment such as camera lenses, lighting and creating a visual style for the scene/film being worked on. This also involves directing the angles shot, and the point of view. The cinematographer does not have direct control of the camera, but  they are able to if need be. Cinematography is a communal art and more than one person is involved in the final result.


Why did director Roman Polanski insist on using hand held camera in the film Chinatown?


There is more intimacy with a hand held camera. The viewer can feel part of the scene, from a moving persons perspective, not a still 'god-like' shot. The hand held camera also forces the actors to act spontaneously, and achieve a more realistic environment.


Name two films which use colour in a very symbolic way, and describe what they suggest?


Sin City - Gathered particular recognition for its unique color processing, which rendered most of the film in black and white but retained or added colouring for select objects.  The use of red over black & white emphasised the blood in a shot, and suggests horror and danger.


Godfather - movie had a yelllow/brassy light to it intentionally. This was because the cinematographer thought it looked right but then it was used in the shooting of period movies afterwards for a long time.


In the film Raging Bull why was the fight scene filmed at different speeds?


To make the time that he was away from the action seem unreal and make the fight time more important. Doubling the frame rate also helped speed up the times which weren’t important and concentrate on the important bits.


Who is the cinematographer for the film Apocalypse Now, and what is his philosophy?


Vittorio Storaro was the cinematographer. Storaro believes that photography is a single persons art, while cinematography is communal.