Cinematography Unit Study
Does your child want to be in the movies? What about creating their own movies? You need more than a 'pretty face'. Here is a unit study to explore this career option and explore the elements of making movies, even for home.
1. Explain and demonstrate the proper elements of a good motion picture, particularly visual storytelling, rhythm, the 180-degree axis rule, camera movement, framing and composition of camera shots, and lens selection.
2. Tell the story you plan to film in a three or four paragraph treatment. How does it read on paper?
3. Prepare a storyboard for your motion picture. (This can be done with rough sketches and stick figures.)
4. Demonstrate the following motion picture shooting techniques: using a tripod, panning a camera, framing a shot, selecting an angle, selecting proper lighting, and handheld shooting.
5. Film or videotape a family event and show it to an audience.
6. Create a minifeature of your own design, using the techniques you learn.
7. Shoot a vignette that could be used as a training tape.
8. Visit a film set or a television production studio and watch how production work is done.
9. Explain the elements of the zoom lens and three important parts.
10. Explain the following jobs related to film or video production: director, producer, cinematographer, key grip, gaffer, best boy, assistant camera operator.
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