Cinematographer : A cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, television production or other live action piece and is responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The study and practice of this field is referred to as cinematography.British and American systems There are differences between the British and the American traditions as regards the role of the director of photography. In the British system, the director of photography (DOP), sometimes credited as the lighting cameraman, is responsible for lighting the set and the visual look of the film, but has no final say over more purely camera operating-based visual elements such as framing. This system means that the director consults the lighting cameraperson for lighting and filtration, and the operator for framing and lens choices. DOP is the British and Canadian acronym for director of photography. In the American system, the technical crew is subordinate to the DP, who, along with and next to the director, has the final word on all decisions related to both lighting and framing, color and tone. The cinematographer 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 exact camera placement and lens selection. 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 is wanted from a scene visually, and allow the cinematographer latitude in achieving that effect. Several American cinematographers have become directors, including Barry Sonnenfeld, originally the Coen brothers DP; Jan de Bont, cinematographer on films as Die Hard and Basic Instinct, directed Speed and Twister.
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 20:30:15 +0000
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