Roberto Shein's article From Chemistry to Bits: The Future of Cinematography argues that digital filmmaking will revolutionize cinematography. Read through Shein's article and respond to it. How might digital technology change methods of cinematography? Are these all positive changes, as Shein seems to believe? Do you foresee any negative consequences for cinematography from the potential shift to digital technology? What are the differences between video and film?
Read through this article describing the technical aspects and uses of the Steadicam. What advantages does a Steadicam offer to filmmakers, and what is the effect of its use? In what kinds of situations might a filmmaker use a Steadicam?
The following page contains a review of several Anthony Mann films recently released on video. Interestingly, the review discusses the work of cinematographer John Alton in greater detail than Mann, going so far as to indicate that Alton can be considered as much of an auteur of these films as Mann. What are the key cinematographic characteristics of Alton's style, as described by the article and illustrated by the presented stills? Do you agree with the assertion that Alton, or any cinematographer, can be as much of an auteur of a film as the director? What differences in responsibility do directors and cinematographers have? How do they work together?
Chapter 7 discusses a number of different aspect ratios as they developed across film history. One historical wide screen process called Cinerama, which is discussed in greater detail in the first chapter, took advantage of a specific technological process to create a wide screen image of dramatic scale. Read through the following discussion of Cinerama. What advantages did Cinerama offer to filmmakers? What film genres could benefit the most from this technology? On the other hand, what drawbacks did it present? Why didn't it last?
The official website of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) contains a section revealing how particular special effects shots and sequences in contemporary films were created (click on the "Studio" link to get to that section). Take a look at one of the "Around the Set" or "Anatomy of a Shot" examples (you will need Quicktime and Shockwave/Flash to view these presentations). What particular challenges did the cinematographer face in trying to create the shot or sequence? How was the technical challenge solved? Would the particular effect have been possible by other means?
How is cinematography being affected by the use of computer technology? CGI allows for the computer to create virtual characters and settings. Many films juxtapose CGI with actual film footage. Who is responsible for combining the two elements, the cinematographer or the technical director? Does the use of CGI enhance or take away from the images on screen? Are there certain shots only possible to create through technology? Films such as the Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter films make great use of both CGI and actual photography. Can you tell which images are CGI and which ones are real? How do the computer technicians and the cinematography team work together to create a cohesive film? Who has the final say in what images are used?
