Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Cinematography

Cinematography
3
16283
2
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,

Teaching staff


Email.

Introduction

Cinematography is a practice-oriented course that places particular emphasis on contemporary digital cinematography workflows and on how these influence both visual storytelling and the overall film production process.

For more than a century, photochemical film was the only medium capable of capturing light and shadow and transforming them into a visual language that conveyed ideas and emotions through cinema. Today, digital imaging technologies compete directly with the quality and efficiency of motion picture film, challenging not only its long-standing dominance within the industry but also its very future.

Pre-course requirements

Having successfully completed the course Recording and Multimedia Editing Techniques.

Objectives

  • To understand the theoretical and practical foundations of cinematography as applied to the creation of fictional audiovisual works.
  • To acquire the technical knowledge required to undertake the cinematography of an audiovisual project throughout its different stages: pre-production, production, and post-production.
  • To analyse the relationship between cinematographic decisions and the narrative, aesthetic, and emotional construction of an audiovisual work.
  • To apply the fundamental principles of lighting, exposure, composition, and camera operation in the creation of cinematic images.
  • To understand the evolution of cinematography from photochemical film processes to contemporary digital imaging systems, assessing their impact on modern production workflows.
  • To recognise cinematography as a fundamental expressive tool in the construction of cinematic language and audience engagement.
  • To develop a critical eye and visual awareness that distinguish passive observation from the intentional construction of cinematic images.
  • To apply principles of visual composition and framing to create images that reinforce the narrative and aesthetic vision of an audiovisual project.
  • To develop the ability to make creative and technical decisions that contribute to the visual coherence of a cinematic production.

Syllabus

1. INTRODUCTION TO CINEMATOGRAPHY
  • Course overview.
  • The human eye, photography, and cinema.
  • Cinematography as an audiovisual language.
  • The role of the Director of Photography within the filmmaking process.
2. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CINEMATOGRAPHIC CAMERA Camera Operation
  • The shutter and shutter speed.
  • Shutter angle.
  • Exposure time.
  • ISO sensitivity.
  • Exposure Value (EV).
Image Control
  • Aspect ratio.
  • Screen formats.
  • Motion blur.
  • Time-lapse.
  • Image filtration.
3. FUNDAMENTALS OF OPTICS Focal Length
  • Types of lenses.
  • Prime lenses and zoom lenses.
Depth of Field
  • Aperture (f-stop and T-stop).
  • Hyperfocal distance.
  • Circle of confusion.
  • Selective focus.
Optical Quality
  • Definition.
  • Sharpness.
  • Optical aberrations.
The Language of Lenses
  • Perspective.
  • Spatial compression.
  • Perspective manipulation.
  • Framing.
4. EXPOSURE AND THE ZONE SYSTEM Light as Energy
  • Exposure.
  • ISO.
  • Lighting ratios.
Exposure Measurement Tools
  • Light meters.
  • Incident light.
  • Reflected light.
The Zone System
  • Grayscale.
  • Middle gray (18% gray).
  • Zone placement.
  • Tonal fall-off.
5. CINEMATIC LIGHTING Lighting Sources
  • Tungsten.
  • HMI.
  • Fluorescent lighting.
  • LED technology.
Lighting Control
  • Distance from the light source.
  • Inverse square law.
  • Cosine law.
Lighting Setups
  • High-key lighting.
  • Low-key lighting.
Digital Tools
  • Lighting design and planning software.
6. COLOUR AND COLOUR TEMPERATURE
  • Colour temperature.
  • White balance.
  • Colour conversion and correction.
  • Colour meters.
  • Mired values.
  • CTO and CTB filters.
  • Tungsten and daylight lighting.
  • Fluorescent lighting.
  • Colour balance.
7. IMAGE CAPTURE FORMATS AND TECHNOLOGIES Photochemical Film
  • 65 mm.
  • 35 mm.
  • Super 16.
  • Super 8.
Digital Cinema
  • ARRI Alexa.
  • RED.
  • Blackmagic.
Choosing the Capture Medium
  • Advantages and disadvantages.
  • Production workflow.
  • Selecting the most suitable format according to the project's requirements.
8. PRE-PRODUCTION AND CINEMATOGRAPHY PLANNING Script Analysis
  • Cinematographic script analysis.
  • Visual design.
Location Scouting
  • Selection criteria.
  • Lighting assessment.
  • Photographic documentation.
  • Floor plans.
  • Planning software.
Camera Design
  • Camera placement.
  • Lens selection.
  • Narrative implications.
Visual Continuity
  • Lighting continuity (raccord).
  • Lighting axes.
  • Continuity of light.
9. THE SHOOT Working on Set
  • Responsibilities of the Director of Photography.
  • Working relationship with the Director.
  • Working relationship with the Assistant Director.
  • Pre-production meetings.
Camera Department
  • Camera Operator.
  • First Assistant Camera (1st AC).
  • Second Assistant Camera (2nd AC).
Lighting Department
  • Gaffers and electricians.
  • Grips.
  • Additional crew units.
Camera Movement
  • Coordination between camera movement and lighting.
  • Lighting large-scale sets.
10. CINEMATOGRAPHY AS A COLLABORATIVE DISCIPLINE
  • Collaboration with the Production Design department.
  • Collaboration with the Costume department.
  • Collaboration with the Makeup department.
  • Collaboration with the Sound department.
  • Integration of all departments in the creation of the film's visual language.
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