Cinematography : Back to Basics by Michael Fitzer, Mfa

I have been teaching an intro to production class at my local community college for a few semesters, and it has been quite the education... FOR ME!

I have spent 30 years in this industry, plying and improving my craft. Studying, practicing, and executing to make the best images I can. But it wasn't until taking on this course as an instructor that I realized how much I was just doing by muscle memory. I would find myself in a familiar situation on a scout or a set, and I would simply fly into action, without needing to explain. It wasn't until I was faced with teaching this stuff from the ground up that I realized knowing it is one thing, while teaching it is a completely different ball of wax.

My goal as an instructor is to give my first-year students a well-rounded education about filmmaking. When it comes to the camera, this means not focusing on the intricate details; the math, the physics... That all comes later, but laying a firm foundation for life behind the lens. Getting the concepts down pat.

I found the Studio Binder channel on YouTube to be extremely helpful in this pursuit. They have tons of entertaining and informative videos on just about every subject relevant to filmmakers. On that channel, I found some great stuff on basic composition, lens selection, camera movement, and so much more. All the stuff that, after several years behind the camera, felt like second nature. I still thought about it, but I never found myself in a situation where I would need to explain what I was doing.

I use the StudioBinder channel videos a lot in my class now. I open with one, and then we spend the rest of the class building on the concepts quickly presented in each video.

So, if you're just getting started and have dreams of becoming a DP, I'd of course love to have you in my class. However, there's plenty on what I like to call "YouTube University" to get you on your way.

Never stop learning!