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.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • CN01 - Recognise the different roles within artistic and technical production teams.
  • CN02 - Identify the various stakeholders in the contemporary audiovisual sector, their roles and the operational dynamics of a digital and globalised environment.
  • CN03 - Identify emerging trends and developments within the global audiovisual ecosystem, including new formats and production technologies.
  • CN05 - Identify the key factors involved in assessing the economic, technical and creative viability of an audiovisual product in the current market.
  • CN06 - Recognise the funding systems used by media groups and companies to support the production of audiovisual projects.
  • CP02 - Critically examine contemporary social developments and contextualise audiovisual works appropriately.
  • CP03 - Communicate information and original ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, in Spanish, Catalan and English.
  • CP04 - Apply professional ethical principles and standards of academic rigour in the audiovisual field, respecting the fundamental right to equality between women and men, promoting human rights, a culture of peace and democratic values, including the use of inclusive, non-discriminatory and stereotype-free language.
  • CP05 - Develop multi-platform scripts that take into account the specific characteristics of different audiovisual genres and formats.
  • CP06 - Apply innovative image and sound techniques in audiovisual productions, integrating emerging technologies.
  • CP07 - Create audiovisual content for commercial purposes, making full use of the expressive possibilities of multimedia environments and maximising creative potential through emerging digital technologies.
  • HB01 - Use a range of media research and documentation resources.
  • HB02 - Apply professional techniques in body language and voice presentation to create impactful audiovisual content.
  • HB03 - Critically analyse contemporary audiovisual genres and formats using professional aesthetic and narrative criteria.
  • HB04 - Use bibliographic resources, specialised terminology and linguistic structures in English effectively for professional communication in the audiovisual field.

Learning outcomes of the subject

Students will be able to:

  1. To stimulate artistic creativity by defining an individual style and developing lateral thinking.

  2. To master audiovisual language in order to create impactful content, integrating music into audiovisual narratives.

  3. To coordinate the teams and departments involved in the production or filming of a cinematographic work.

  4. To attend to the nuances of the final stages of audiovisual editing and post-production in order to produce professional artistic works.

  5. To distinguish the techniques, elements and effects used to immerse viewers in an atmosphere through the audiovisual experience.

  6. To edit pre-recorded material with a sense of rhythm and narrative coherence, keeping up to date with the main techniques for creating impactful and effective audiovisual content.

  7. To acquire technical skills in the main technologies for recording and editing image and sound.

  8. To devise coherent and consistent stories, while remaining flexible enough to adapt elements of the original text to the demands of a viable final audiovisual project.

  9. To move beyond the perspective of the spectator and adopt the mindset of an audiovisual creator by studying, analysing and planning all stages of production.

  10. To innovate through the hybridisation of formats and genres in order to adapt audiovisual content to new sensibilities and social trends.

  11. To express personal concerns artistically through documentary filmmaking, exploring this audiovisual genre both in its informative and social-awareness dimensions.

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.

Bibliography and resources

Alton, J. (2013). Painting with light. University of California Press. (Trabajo original publicado en 1949).
American Society of Cinematographers. (2022). The American Cinematographer manual (11th ed.). ASC Press.
Brown, B. (2022). Cinematography: Theory and practice: For cinematographers and directors (4th ed.). Routledge.
Holben, J., & Probst, C. (2022). The Cine Lens Manual. Focal Press.
American Society of Cinematographers. American Cinematographer. American Cinematographer
ARRI Academy. Recursos formativos sobre cámaras, iluminación y flujos de trabajo. ARRI Academy
ARRI. ARRI Lighting Handbook. ARRI Lighting Handbook
Blackmagic Design. DaVinci Resolve Training. DaVinci Resolve Training

Print version