Cinematography Insights from David Moxness, ASC, CSC;
Stijn Van der Veken, ASC, SBC; and Mark Dobrescu, CSC
 Lighting the Narrative: A Conversation with David Moxness,ASC, CSC STUDENTFILMMAKERS: What are your Top 3 Lighting Tips for new generation filmmakers and storytellers? David Moxness, ASC, CSC: Tip #1: Faces. So much emotion, character and storytelling will come from the actors, specifically their close up. Sometimes I feel lighting faces gets lost, yet it can be such a huge factor in storytelling. How best does the lighting portray that character – or characters – in a scene? Tip #2: Environment. The lighting of the set/location needs to fit with the scene and story. Treat it like another character. Tip #3. Explore. Technically, there really isn't a right way or wrong way. It's about what feels appropriate. Use examples from existing films and shows as influence, but don't be afraid to explore. Put your thumbprint on it! [Read more]  Azden's Ni-Go-Maru (250) Series Shotgun MicrophonesAffectionately known in Japan as "Ni-Go-Maru" (Japanese for "250"), the Azden 250 Series Professional Shotgun Microphones deliver professional-grade performance and world-class build quality at an affordable price. With four different models to choose from, filmmakers can find the perfect microphone for their application. Each microphone comes with an incredible 10-year warranty so you can rest assured that your Azden "Ni-Go-Maru" Shotgun Microphone will produce great sound for your film projects for years to come. [Watch video] STUDENT VOICE  "SIMULACRA,"2020 Student Academy Award Winner STUDENTFILMMAKERS: With all of your capabilities in digital manipulation, are you still concerned with the precise details of lighting onset?  Curry Sicong Tian: I think post production created more room for fixing the problem, but the precise details of lighting is still very essential, the same logic with people are still indulging with shooting on film, it has the different aura, and lots of textures that could not be fixed by post. Jumai Yusuf: Yes, of course our film was a unique combination of 3D elements and live-action footage, so the lighting on set was still very important. We also worked with projectors and green screen which present unique lighting challenges. Alexa Velasquez: Absolutely. While the possibilities of post-production are endless, it is still extremely important to be specific about the lighting scheme and cinematography if live action footage will be a part of the final project. It is all a part of the director's vision, and there are certain things like undertones, exposure, certain colors that require specific, preplanned lighting to look how it has been envisioned. Good lighting also helps to mix the two - digital and live-action - much better.
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 A Conversation with Stijn Van der Veken, ASC, SBCLeading Your Audience's Eye STUDENTFILMMAKERS: You're known for your ominous, beautiful dark cinematography and playing with shadows and contrast. Where did your style for lighting come from? Stijn Van der Veken, ASC, SBC: Cinematography is all about guiding the story and the actors' performances to the audience in such a way that the story is believable although it is fictional. Therefore, we create a visual atmosphere which supports this by using light as our main tool blending it with camera positions, camera moves and the right choices of focal lengths and framing of course. We want to guide the audience's eyes to what is important story-wise on screen... [Read more]  "The Art of Breaking Down a Script is Essential for a DP" By Mark Dobrescu, CSCYou've just finished watching a great movie, and a discussion arises about the picture when the inevitable comment that, "the movie looked fantastic," comes up. After some quick research, you find out who shot it and find an article on how the DP lit the movie, which camera and lenses were used. However, before any frame is even shot, the DP has undertaken many steps to be ready. An overlooked aspect of the DP's work is the initial breakdown of the script. Personally, I will read the script 4 to 5 times before I even attempt to start a breakdown. The first, and most important, question I will ask the producer is: What is the budget, and how many days do I have to shoot the movie? These are critical questions that dictate every aspect of a breakdown and the shooting of the movie. I will elaborate later on. [Read more]  Aesthetic 3D Lighting with Lee LanierSTUDENTFILMMAKERS: What are your Top 3 Tips for Lighting in 3D? Lee Lanier: Lighting in 3D is similar to lighting in real-life. Study the basics of lighting in traditional painting, photography, and cinematography. Here are 3 tips: (#1.) Set one light at a time, starting with your key. (#2.) Be selective with your shadows. Not every light needs to cast a shadow. This is one advantage of 3D over the real world. (#3.) 3-point lighting is often discussed but is not an all-encompassing solution. For many scenes, it does not work. For example, sometimes 1-point, 2-point, or naturalistic – arbitrary number of lights used to replicate lighting at a real location – lighting works better. [Read more] StudentFilmmakers Magazine Testimonials: "Since its first issue, StudentFilmmakers Magazine has been a wonderful educational resource, with informative articles targeted to the interests of film students everywhere." ~M. David Mullen, ASC "It is, by far, the most awesome resource that I use, not only for my personal development, but also reference and encourage my students to subscribe to." ~Jose A. Cardenas, SOC, IATSE Local 600 For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please contact StudentFilmmakers through our online contact form here. We greatly appreciate your support. "With the rapid application of the changing technologies, we're all students." Never Stop Learning. |
