The BEST Cinematography Advice From Roger Deakins (His Philosophy of Cinematography)

TL;DR

Cinematography is not about creating beautiful shots, but about immersing the audience in the film as a whole.

Transcript

it's not just do it because it looks pretty that's the problem i mean that's a problem with all cinematography you don't ever want to go on a location scout thinking first primarily where's the light coming from that's that's death i think there's times to move the camera there's times to follow a character and there's times to stay back and allow ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍶 The audience's immersion and engagement should be the primary focus of cinematography, rather than creating visually stunning shots for their own sake.
• 🌍 Lighting should be justified and contribute to creating a believable world for the audience to be immersed in.
• 😫 Pre-production planning and flexibility on set are both essential in creating effective cinematography.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main goal of cinematography?

The main goal of cinematography is to create a film that sustains the overall feel and engages the audience, rather than solely focusing on creating visually stunning shots.

Q: How does simplicity play a role in cinematography?

Simplifying the visuals and avoiding extravagant camera moves and excessive technology can help maintain the audience's immersion and prevent distractions from the story being told.

Q: How does the choice of camera movement affect storytelling?

There are times to move the camera, follow a character, or allow the character to be observed within a space. The choice of camera movement should always serve the story and enhance the audience's perception of it.

Q: What is the difference between naturalism and realism in cinematography?

Naturalism aims to create a reality that feels believable and behaves like the real world, while realism may deviate from actual reality to evoke a certain mood or focus on specific aspects of a scene or story.

Key Insights:

• The audience's immersion and engagement should be the primary focus of cinematography, rather than creating visually stunning shots for their own sake.
• Lighting should be justified and contribute to creating a believable world for the audience to be immersed in.
• Pre-production planning and flexibility on set are both essential in creating effective cinematography.
• Lens choice and camera perspective impact the audience's perception and emotional connection to the characters and story.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Cinematography is not just about aesthetics, but about sustaining the feel of the film and keeping the audience immersed.

• Creating a film that flows seamlessly and engages the audience is more important than individual brilliant shots.

• Simplifying the visual elements and focusing on storytelling are key components of effective cinematography.