Cinematography
Cinematography is one of the most important aspects of any type of media production as the cinematography is what gives a production a certain vibe and aesthetic that impacts the viewer in different ways as different shots, angles and types of cinematic leave different effects on the viewer. The camera man uses cinematography to help communicate different scenes, messages and important moments with the help of angles and shots and camera movements. There are various types of shots in media production. For example there is;
​
- Panorama shot
​
This is when a camera glides smoothly horizontally. This can be used when trying to fit a big location into one shot as the camera pans around to reveal the surroundings. This can be used in productions when introducing new locations to the viewer.
​
- Flash Pan shot
​
A flash pan shot is when the camera is shot horizontally from one subject to another, this is done quick to give an effect that blurs out the action in the scene and focuses on the subject. This can be used in productions during confrontations, fight scenes or even chase scenes.
​
- Crane shot
​
The crane shot is when the camera is being shot from a crane that is suspended in the air, this is popularly used in action films as there are a lot of chase scenes, fight scenes or scenes that need to be captured from above to help the director achieve the desired effect.
​
- Tracking shot
​
The tracking shot is when a camera moves from a set position to another and this can be either sideways, or in and out. There are various ways you can use the camera and move the actual body of the camera to impact the footage that is captured. The lends can be used to zoom in and out of the action in action sequences and the camera can also be moved sideways to follow the action. The camera can also be moved forwards and backwards to create a zoom effect and this is another form of a tracking shot.
​
- Long shot
​
A long shot is when the shot captures the characters and the surroundings around them and to create this shot you would have to record from a certain set distance in order for it to be distinguished into a long shot. This can be used effectively when there are several characters in a scene together as a long shot would be able to capture all characters and important surroundings.
​
- Close up
​
A close up shot is when the camera is zoomed in on the subject and this is an effective shot during scenes where characters are communicating with each other. It is also particularly effective as it is used to showcase a characters expression, emotion and help provide the viewers with an insight to what the character is truly feeling.
​
- Medium shot
​
A medium shot is in between of a long and close up shot, so this denotes that the shot would usually show the face and part of the body of a subject. This can also be used in conversations or important scenes when the character is engaging in an activity. For example, if the subject is gaming on his computer, the camera would capture the subjects face, a part of his body and the screen.
​
​
​
Personally, when I create films, I like to use medium shots and close ups to keep the premise and storyline a bit of a mystery and this keeps the audience engaged as they want to find out more about the setting but aren't getting enough glances at it. Therefore I like to use close ups to stick the camera on the characters as well as using medium shots to show a bit of the premise as a tease.
Lighting
Lighting is arguably the most important aspect of filming a scene, this is as lighting defines the tone, theme and overall quality of the shot. With poor lighting the camera may pick up grain and lose out on quality as it doesn't capture enough light. In optimal light conditions, lighting can be used to reflect a characters emotion. For example, turning the lights red to represent anger or love. Lighting is essential and is especially used during indoor shots and CGI shots as without proper lighting CGI cannot be achieved effectively. There are various lighting techniques in the film industry that are used when producing content.
​
- Back-Lighting
​
Back lighting is where the lighting produced comes from the back of the set or shot, this is done to create a characters silhouette and render them unable to see or indistinguishable. This is done to create a dramatic effect in thrillers, horror movies and other productions where a characters identity is hidden. This works in an effective and efficient manner to create a silhouette not just for a person but even objects.
​
- High Key Lighting
​
This is method of lighting that is often used in beauty and makeup commercials and in comedies. A high key lighting look provides you fewer shadows and enables the subject to look flawless and attractive. It produces an even amount of light that spreads across an entire scene. High key lighting is very bright and leaves little to no shadows in the shot.
​
- Low Key Lighting
​
Low Key lighting is the opposite of High Key lighting and is used in productions to emphasise on shadows and pools of light that then tend to influence and create an atmosphere to set the mood of a scene. These tend to be used in horror movies, thrillers, emotional moments and dark scenes and is an effective method of portraying a negative or dull setting.
Sound
Sound is one of the most important aspects in a media production of any sort, sound is what helps the viewer better depict and understand scenes and moments in creative media production. There are various different types of sound used to create effects, dialogues and background scores in different scenes.
​
- Diegetic
​
Diegetic sound is sound that comes from the world within the drama including voices of the characters, sounds made by object in the story and music represented as coming from objects within the story. For example, an actors voice is diegetic because it is recorded when the scene is recorded. Below is an example of diegetic sound:
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
- Non Diegetic
​
Non-diegetic sound is when the sounds are not in the scene, this is usually done with soundtracks - adding music to scenes to build tension or make scenes more dramatic. You can usually see this when no-one is speaking, music is added to the scene so it isn't left silent. Here is an example of non-diegetic sound:
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
- Ambient Sound
​
Ambient noise and sound is the sound that is the background noise of a scene. It can be used to set the tone of a scene, to give context to a scene and to help the viewer understand the location. For example, a scene in a movie that is in Japan can have ambient noise of someone talking in Japanese to give the viewer the context that the scene is set in Japan.
​
- Synchronous
​
Synchronous sound is the term that is used when the sound in a scene correlates and matches the action to provide a synchronised scene that has a flow and works well. For example, in a fight scene, punching noises would be heard when the actor punches another actor.
​
- Asynchronous
​
Asynchronous sound is term used to define sound that doesn't match the action of the scene but can be used to create a distortion. These sounds are usually recorded and added in after the scene has been shot.
​
Editing
The editing of a production takes place once all the required film and footage has been acquired and shot for the production. This then leads to the editing, the post-production stage of the production. Editing is what brings a production to life, without good editing, the viewer will be easily disengaged and uninterested in the production and therefore it is essential to ensure good editing techniques and skills have been used. Editing is used to add effects such as CGI, assembling clips together and removing unwanted moments and scenes.
​
There are different types of editing involved and used in post media production:
​
- Continuity Editing
​
Continuity editing is the process of creating a smooth and seamless narrative viewing experience for the audience. Continuity editing is the industries predominant style of film editing and video editing in the post production process of filmmaking for narrative films and television programs. It is the most basic form of editing and is the most commonly used one. This style of editing is used to ensure that the narrative is clearly shown, transitions must be in perfect places and shots must be correct so that the audience is able to understand what is going on in the scene or moment.
​
- Reaction Shot
​
A reaction shot is a shot which cuts away from the main scene in order to show the reaction of a character to the particular scene or moment that just happened. These scenes are usually silent as it shows the reaction of a character through facial expressions, e.g. a smile, frown, tears and a gasp.
​
For example, here is a video of a reaction shot:
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Reaction shots can be accompanied with transitions and music to further impose the reactions and emotions depicted and felt by the character in the scene.
Scripting
A script is the basis and foundation of the roles and dialogues that actors, directors and crew members utilise to understand the happenings of a scene or plot. It is really important and essential in any production for actors to know their lines for shoots and this is achieved by creating a script as it is an organised and simple form of providing an actor and director with information as well as a structured method to lay down a story in an effective and efficient manner.
When scripts are produced, they are in the form of a screenplay and it includes information such as dialogues and camera movements as the cameraman needs to know the dialogues to understand the scene and be able to work according to the written plot camera wise. The writer has the power to and can make several changes throughout the process of scripting and filming, the writer's role is to ensure that the script and instructions are clear enough for all stakeholders (crew & cast) to understand whats going on and what needs to be done to produce the film or series etc.
​
Scripts are extremely important to any form of media production as without it nothing would be said or executed properly as it instructions won't be properly interpreted without a script. A script writers role is very important and essential as his/her role is to create entertaining and engaging characters with delicate and intricate plot lines to keep the audience engaged in the production. The writer needs to be present during the production of the project to ensure the script runs smoothly and is present to make changes if needed.
​
When a writer is creating a story for a drama, the writer needs to take into consideration about various aspects such as; time setting, the world it is set in and ideologies of the universe. For example, Doctor Who is a Sci-Fi drama and to create an interesting plot for audiences the writer would have to attract them and keep them engaged by developing plots about outer space and aliens so that the audience isn't disappointed and is engaged in the performance. To create an effective script the writer must also account for the target audience aspects such as; gender, age, country and fan following demands.
Building a scene & story
Scene:
​
Having scenes that work properly in an effective and efficient manner is essential to the success of creating an engaging and entertaining story that works well. In order to do this, building a good scene first is the most essential aspect. In order to create a believable scene, the scene needs to make sense with shots that work well with the narrative and key moments. To create a scene that works, it is essential to include the correct props and right characters within the shot in order to make it look good and engaging.
Single camera productions must ensure that their scenes are relevant to the production. For a costume drama set in the 1980's you need to ensure that the clothes are that of the fashion from the 1980's in order for it to work so that it looks legitimate to the era. Having a character wear clothes from the year 2015 doesn't make sense in a drama set in the 1980's and therefore it is essential to ensure continuity and relevancy.
​
Story:
​
The story is the essential and most important part of any media production as that is the key aspect that keeps the audience engaged and develop their interests in the production. To build an effective story, the production manager needs to consider variables such as; actors, premise, setting, era, length of episodes (if a TV show), sequels (for movies) and endings (for single dramas or short films).
​
An engaging and effective story's success depends on the nature of the scenes, if the shots are not engaging then neither will the story be engaging. The story needs to be carefully thought out and written by an experienced and creative writer who can play on the audiences emotions without making the production too cliche or boring. The story needs to be built up with good characters and interesting storylines to ensure the success of said production.
