Cinematography

The place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on all things lighting, framing, cameras, lenses and technique

Zoran Dragelj
Your thoughts on newly released ARRI ALEXA 35

Now that the dust has settled, what are your thoughts on newly released ARRI ALEXA 35.

https://youtu.be/11IPQYZMXjc

Andrew Sobkovich

Hmmm... very interesting to compare Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah to an Alexa35.

Perhaps the line in the lyrics :

"There's a blaze of light in every word

It doesn't matter which you heard

The holy or the bro...

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Geoff Hall
The Hollywood Reporter - Cinematographers Round Table

Roger Deakins - Blade Runner 2049

Janus Kaminski - The Post

Robert Elswit - Suburbicon

Rachel Morrison - Mudbound

Dan Laustsen - The Shape of Water

Hoyte van Hoytema - Dunkirk

Amongst other conversations that occurred here’s one that resonated with me.

Roger Deakins - I’ve met people who don’t even know wh...

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Geoff Hall

Arthur Charpentier but what era of Russian cinema are you talking about?

Arthur Charpentier

Geoff Hall, I mean the modern period of cinema, the last ten years.

of course you are right that training and knowledge are important for a director and a screenwriter. but my opinion is that a person...

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Geoff Hall

Arthur Charpentier ah, I see. For me, I’d like to think that there’s a balance to be had between psychological and cinematic knowledge. And I say that as one who has read Jung and some of the Jungians...

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Arthur Charpentier

Geoff Hall, and thank you very much for the conversation!

Polydina Flynt

I actually think that someone who loves film enough to want to do it for a vocation should watch as many and as varied films as possible. That doesn't mean they need to use existing films as influence...

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Russell Palmer
Favorite way to make storyboards

Hi everyone,

What are your recommended ways for drawing storyboards, either analog or digital?

Also do you recommend any courses on storyboarding (such as the one here on Stage32) or others? Anyone good at Toon Boom Storyboard Pro? Wonderunit? Others?

I am just drawing on paper/whiteboard and scanning...

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E Langley

I posted about Dall E Mini several months ago. Since then, OpenAI dropped their invitation only policy for DALL E. It's open to all. The results are far better on Dall E 2 than Mini. One receives 50...

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Russell Palmer

Ok thanks! Anyone else using other tools, like Shotdeck or Storyboard Pro?

Would love to learn about the basic pro/con of storyboarding with the classic tools, if you had a moment to answer 3-5 questio...

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Maurice Vaughan

I signed up for Shotdeck to try it out, Russell Palmer. I plan to use it in the future for photos (download the photos and use them in pitch decks).

Jeremy Baehr

I use storyboard pro which is common in the industry but some artists use photoshop or even board on paper. If you want to try storyboard pro I would recommend investing in a cintiq. They’re expensive but are needed for creating smooth drawings.

Russell Palmer

Great thanks Jeremy! We built a tool if you'd like to try our free Beta trial, sign up here: www.simplyboard.ai

Jeremy Baehr
Cinematography for storyboarding

Hi all, I’m interested in learning more about cinematography so I can apply it to my storyboards. I’m familiar with film language, know about different types of shots and the 180 rule for example. I always want to try to use the best shot for the story I’m telling and would love to know about any go...

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Sydney Summers

Hi, Jeremy! Welcome to the community :) I am the Education Marketing Coordinator here at Stage 32! I would love to recommend some webinars/ classes/ labs to you as well. Feel free to email me at edu@stage32.com

Amanda Toney

I love this post. I hope someone in my network can help you out with your questions. We had a great webinar taught by the director of SHREK 2 that showed his storyboards and his pitch on how it all ca...

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Stephen Folker
Killer Cases on A&E / Hulu

My latest work aired on A&E.

https://play.aetv.com/shows/killer-cases/season-3/episode-9

Hope everyone is staying productive! :)

Stephen Folker

Geoff Hall thanks!

No, my main work comes from producing short / feature films for other people on a micro level. The network stuff is fun, but not regular enough (few times year). I've also done two d...

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Amanda Toney

Congrats on KILLER CASES Stephen!

Geoff Hall

Stephen Folker Congratulations, Stephen!

Sydney Summers

Congrats Stephen Folker, what an accomplishment!

Geoff Hall

Stephen Folker Stephen, please email me about this 'micro level' work. This year I'll be looking for a US Producer for "Breathe". I'm interested to hear more. Thanks.

Kate Merywyn Hawkes
Seeking Thoughts on I-Phone Filming

Hello, I am soon to make my fist Short and we are tossing around the pros and cons of shooting it with an I-phone.. Thoughts? Suggestions? A good DP who works with one? Particularly interested in how the sound works. ( 2 actors, 1 location BTW) Thank you!. yYou can also email me directly at kate@wel...

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Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

Give this a go - hopefully the link holds, works: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mobilefilmakers

Kate Merywyn Hawkes

Thank you - worked perfectly.

Stephen Folker

A camera is a tool. It's the person using it. Example, a great screenwriter can use a notebook and pencil, typewriter or Final Draft. It won't matter. One is just a bit easier / more efficient.

All boils down to lighting + composition.

Vital Butinar

Hi Kate Merywyn Hawkes!

I guess that an iphone even though the images from them are really great lately wouldn't exactly be my first choice for shooting a film you can do it and probably do it really w...

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Kate Merywyn Hawkes

Thank you everyone!

Geoff Hall
David Lean - On his most famous Shots

We are told that 'Drama is contrast'. And more interestingly, that Lean lost his nerve when editing the famous entrance of Omar Sharif through the heat-haze.

But William Wyler had told him, "If you are going to shock the audience, get them to almost the point of boredom, before doing so."

This video...

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Geoff Hall

This was the opening sequence I was talking about. The resolution is sadly poor, so don't put it on full screen!

https://youtu.be/GzPr3R3DNoo

Andrew Sobkovich

Geoff Hall that scene completely illustrates your point. The rest of the picture is definitely to be seen on a big screen. Still amazing and a testament to what could be accomplished a long time ago....

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Jack Murphy
Dark Lighting Help

I just finished shooting my second short film for $100. The place where I shot didn't have the best light sources and I didn't have the money to afford professional lighting equipment. Anybody have any tips for what I could have done better? Short Film: https://youtu.be/fVPMT2s0G-I...

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Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

On the practical side, and low budget side - you could use China balls, these are the paper lanterns (come in different sizes), and use diffused bulbs (aka: soft light bulbs) - you can plug them in an...

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Ryan Little

Hey Jack! Congrats on the film. It was fun to watch. It's hard to do a film on a type budget. I would say the biggest thing I am seeing here that could help would be to have some direction on the ligh...

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Andrew Sobkovich

Jack Murphy First off, congratulations on making your short. Good on ya for actually doing it and now wanting to learn and get better.

Scenes where you are trying to maintain a dark feel to enhance mys...

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Stephen Folker

Great first job.

You don't need high end gear to achieve a desirable look. Just get creative with what you have. Few tips for your next project. Your images would benefit with some depth. Isolate your...

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Shellie Schmals
Special Stop-Motion Shout-out to Maurice - this one's for you...

Really interesting article on how "How does cinematography work on a stop-motion film?"

Maurice - I thought this might interest you ...

Would love to hear from a cinematographer who has worked on a stop-motion film - what were...

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How does cinematography work on a stop-motion film? - befores & afters
How does cinematography work on a stop-motion film? - befores & afters
'Pinocchio' DOP Frank Passingham breaks down his extensive lighting, camera, motion control and lens choices on the Guillermo del Toro movie. In the second part of befores & afters' extensive Pinocchi…
Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for the shout-out and the article, Shellie Schmals! :D I started reading the article, but I stopped because I saw a spoiler. I think it's a minor spoiler, so it's ok. :) I'll read the article a...

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Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Amanda Toney! I sent Max a request.

Shellie Schmals

Maurice Vaughan - Yikes!! I didn't notice the spoiler! Enjoy the movie :)

Maurice Vaughan

It's ok, Shellie Schmals. Thanks.

Sam Sokolow

Thanks, Shellie.

Shellie Schmals
Oscar Predictions Already!!

Oscar predictions are starting already! Whose on your list?

Although I'm still unpacking my feelings about the story itself, I love Matthew Libatique's vision in Don't Worry Darling!

Drop yours in the comments below....

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Oscar predictions: 'TÁR' cracks Best Cinematography top 10 following Golden Frog win at EnergaCAMERIMAGE Festival
Oscar predictions: 'TÁR' cracks Best Cinematography top 10 following Golden Frog win at EnergaCAMERIMAGE Festival
"TÁR" cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister has received the 30th EnergaCAMERIMAGE Festival's Golden Frog. Over the past 10 years, five of the award's recipients have also been nominated for Best Cinem…
Shellie Schmals

Geoff Hall - such a good film!

Andrew Sobkovich

For Cinematography????

Geoff Hall

Andrew Sobkovich yes, go ahead.

And also, do you have a showreel?

Amanda Toney

Florian Hoffmeister has everyone buzzing around town here. I still haven't seen TAR yet, can't wait to check it out.

Andrew Sobkovich

In Tár pay close attention to the Scene where she is teaching in a Conducting class at Julliard that starts about 25 minutes or so.. An 11 minute TechnoCrane tour-de-force that is a singular standout in the picture.

Manuele Bonafede
Humility of the great

I remember many years ago .. one of the greatest directors of this century .. man of boundless humility .. finished a quite stressful scene physically and psychologically .. he took off his gloves to come and shake hands with me and another German boy!

Well Mr. Spike Lee this memory will be with me forever in my heart!

Manuele Bonafede

Big man Spike .... I like that movie too ... with Clive Owen I worked on another movie ... the director was Tony Gilroy ... Duplicity.

Maurice Vaughan

That's cool you worked with Clive Owen, Manuele Bonafede! Sounds like you work on set a lot.

Manuele Bonafede

Not anymore but I worked for many years as a young man ... all positive experiences .. too bad that I still didn't have the passion of the writer .. it was a hobby more than anything else! :)

Amanda Toney

What a great share, and it clearly had a profound impact on you. We have several Stage 32 educators who work with Spike (his composer and his PR team) and they have nothing but excellent things to say about working with him and his love and support of fellow artists.

Manuele Bonafede

Amanda :) I confirm :)

Sachin Kumar Pal
Cinema

“Spilled coffees, rejected dialogues, constant disapprovals, huge amount of brainstorming, disagreements over budgets, dark days of shoot, a film grows out of a mixed bag of perceptions about a perfect final product.”

Shellie Schmals

Hi Sachin Kumar Pal - you paint a great picture of what it looks like to collaborate! Are you working on any new projects?

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