"Mark of the Beast"
Written & compiled by Dru Pfeiffer and Brandon Rawlins
“Nomenclature”… refers to a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, used by an individual or community.[1]
-While the following may sound like the ramblings of a cranky old man, let me re-assure you that it is not simple crankiness but rather the ramblings of a veteran in the business who grows tired of the miss-use of terms, and bares witness to the constant need for the vastly inept older guys (You know who you are ‘Mr. W’) trying to woo the young trust-fund babies who own the one and a trillion DVX-100, 200, 300’s…. Folks it’s just 1’s and 0’s. So here is an attempt to maybe, educate without standing on the ‘soap’ box-
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera (the art and science of which is known as cinematography). The title is generally equivalent to director of photography (DP or DoP), used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The cinematographer is sometimes also the camera operator. The term cinematographer has been a point of contention for some time now; some professionals insist that it only applies when the director of photography and camera operator are the same person, although this is far from being uniformly the case. To most, cinematographer and director of photography are interchangeable term
Responsibilities
The English system of camera department hierarchy sometimes firmly separates the duties of the director of photography from that of the camera operator to the point that the DP often has no say whatsoever over more purely operating-based visual elements such as framing. In this case, the DP is often credited as a lighting cameraman. This system means that the director consults the lighting cameraman for lighting and filtration and the operator for framing and lens choices.
In the American system, which is more widely adopted, the rest of the camera department is subordinate to the DP, who, along with the director, has the final word on all decisions related to both lighting and framing.
The cinematographer typically selects the film stock, lens, filters, etc. to realize the scene in accordance with the intentions of the director. Relations between the cinematographer and director vary; in some instances the director will allow the cinematographer complete independence; in others, the director allows little to none, even going so far as to specify aperture and shutter angle. Such a level of involvement is not common once the director and cinematographer have become comfortable with each other. The director will typically convey to the cinematographer what he wants from a scene visually, and allow the cinematographer latitude in achieving that effect.
On some shoots, a director may assume the duties of the cinematographer, especially when shooting nude scenes or in other physically intimate settings where the director wishes to have as few people as possible present.
Strictly speaking, a videographer (No “t” in the middle…Sorry Dave) is a person who works in the video medium — recording moving images on tape, disk, or other electro-mechanical device, or even broadcasting live. On a set, he or she is responsible for the camera and lighting. As part of a typical field production crew, videographers usually work underneath a director. However, for smaller productions (e.g. corporate and event videos), a video videographer often works alone, or as part of a two or three person team of camera operators.
Typically, videographers are distinguished from cinematographers because they use electro-mechanical cameras while cinematographers record images on film. The advent of digital cinematography, however, has blurred this distinction.
“ok did you get that??? Let me have you read it again…."
Typically, videographers are distinguished from cinematographers because they use electro-mechanical cameras while cinematographers record images on film. The advent of digital cinematography, however, has blurred this distinction
Further, it is becoming more and more common for people to talk about "filming" with a video camera even though no "film" is involved. Similarly, the term "videotaping" is often used (for lack of a better term) though no tape (or film) is involved, where live video is recorded directly to a hard drive or DVD.
Maintains and operates video equipment, edits select footage, and stays up to date with all new technological advances.
-Orsen Welles-
“A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”
-Jeff Cronenweth-
“Some stories are just best told digitally, and certainly most are told better on film. I probably would say that I prefer to shoot on film, but there are certain cases where digital is the proper approach to the job... I think they're both great mediums.”
wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematography
www.Imdb.com
Website developed by Rawlins Information Technology Services
bcrawlins@ritsonline.com