Intimidated by this board...

nouou

nouou

Well-known member
I am an avid film buff and have been studying filmmaking for the past 8 months or so. I've learned a ton except for learning anything about cinematography. Reading these boards, is like trying to read another language, and is very scary. Are there any good beginner cinematography books out there for someone who knows nothing about the subject?
 
Read the filmmakers handbook, everything you need to know is in there.

Also get a subscription to American Cinematographer. You'll be up to speed in no time.

- Greg
 
I learned most of the complex stuff by asking dumb questions on this board. I learned the fundamentals by taking seminars and courses.
 
nouou said:
I am an avid film buff and have been studying filmmaking for the past 8 months or so. I've learned a ton except for learning anything about cinematography. Reading these boards, is like trying to read another language, and is very scary. Are there any good beginner cinematography books out there for someone who knows nothing about the subject?
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nouou

i can't tell you what to read because i am an actor but i admire that you asked such a sharp question.

i once got told by an incredible teacher that we stopped teaching the 'language' of the course before teaching the course. on your own you figured out you need to know the lingo to teach yourself more. just seems very sharp of you to figure that out!
 
I know how you feel. But the WORLD is intimidating if you let it be.


Ask ask askkkk questions!

Some of the guys/gals on this board are arrogant jerks

some are exactly the opposite
I've talked to both

Dont let anyone/thing discourage you

Youll learn fast! I've learned SO much in 5 months
 
Michele Seidman said:
nouou

i can't tell you what to read because i am an actor but i admire that you asked such a sharp question.

i once got told by an incredible teacher that we stopped teaching the 'language' of the course before teaching the course. on your own you figured out you need to know the lingo to teach yourself more. just seems very sharp of you to figure that out!
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That adds to my confidence of writing dialogue, thanks :)

And thanks everyone else for tha tips.
 
And never feel scared to ask questions. If anything I am always up for answering questions you may have, and there are a few other guys here who really know their stuff so ask away!
 
nouou said:
I am an avid film buff and have been studying filmmaking for the past 8 months or so. I've learned a ton except for learning anything about cinematography. Reading these boards, is like trying to read another language, and is very scary. Are there any good beginner cinematography books out there for someone who knows nothing about the subject?
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uhhm ..... SHUT UP NEWB?





Sorry had to be done. Good question. :2vrolijk_08:
 
read then shoot.

then read more. shoot more. then, look at your footage. See what sucks. Dont repeat.

see what works, and start playing with whats working. push it till you think it looks "cool" then dial it back 5%. ( trust me, self control is the hardest part of cinematography)

once you master the basics, then you can feel free to go after "cool".

when i started as a DP, i went after the wildest, shots. Each frame looked great, but that doesnt mean it will cut together... So i started assisting more established DP's and seeing how they built scenes. once you learn that you can go back to chasing cool, while maintaining cuttable footage.
 
TimurCivan said:
read then shoot.

then read more. shoot more. then, look at your footage. See what sucks. Dont repeat.

see what works, and start playing with whats working. push it till you think it looks "cool" then dial it back 5%. ( trust me, self control is the hardest part of cinematography)

once you master the basics, then you can feel free to go after "cool".
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Great post!
 
more of the technical side, but will really help you logically light your scenes is book called "Set Lighting Technicians Handbook" If you read this book cover to cover you will know what works best for the look you are trying to achieve.
 
Even better than all those books is to be a grip on a set. You pick up more by doing with other people than by reading. The books can only get you so far. You'll pick up the basics really fast if you can find a couple good sets to work on. It's worth the experience.
 
Learn basic photography. Most everything else derives from this.

Here's a really good book to bring you up to speed in 3 hours:

http://www.amazon.com/Bare-Bones-Camera-Course-Video/dp/0960371818

I used this as a beginner text when I taught cinematography at a private college. It helped students with zero camera experience understand the basics of how motion photography works in a very short time period. This is the most simple way to learn.
 
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Dont worry, only the first 20 years is hard......it's all downhill from there.:)



The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age

I think you will find it cheap and usefull.
 
Here's my suggestion: Get a video camera of any kind, find a story you want to tell, and shoot it. You'll learn far more by doing that than reading any book. The greatest cinematographers in the world learned that way. Look at it like this: If you already have a camera (and it doesn't have to be a DVX, HVX or RED One) all you have to do is fill up the viewfinder in a way that tells the story best.

Good luck.
 
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