CINE4110 15 JUL 2014

Notes on Narrative Cinematography

Covering the Scene
A narrative scene has one of two purposes:
1. to reveal character
2. to move the story forward
Both at the same time is gold.
Questions for the cinematographer
1. Photographic Where is the camera stationed?
Narrative Whose point of view is being expressed?
2. Photographic What is the size of the shot?
Narrative What distance are we from the subject of the scene?
3. Photographic What is our angle of view?
Narrative What is our relationship to the subject?
4. Photographic Are we cutting or moving the camera?
Narrative Are we comparing points of view?
Shot Content
1. action
2. reaction
3. interaction
4. line of action (a.k.a. continuity line, axis, 180-degree rule)
5. circle of action (internal and external coverage)
6. characters in relationship to each other
7. characters in relationship to their environment
8. shot/reverse-shot pairs
9. the "look"
10. entrances/exits
11. insert/detail
12. context/ambience
13. transitions
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