Файл: 2_urok_3.docx

Exercise 57. Choose the best option.

1. The film producer is responsible for

1. finding the story and the film director.

2. casting.

3. the overall quality of the film and the finances.

2. According to the text, the film producer does NOT do that during preproduction.

1. negotiating special effects

2. trying to make the film director like the script

3. discussing the final draft of the film

3. The text suggests that in the production phase

1. the producer performs only administrative functions.

2. may act as an artist.

3. re-writes the script.

4. The text says that in the post-production phase the producer

1. may have the film crew reshoot some scenes.

2. watches the whole film from beginning to end.

3. finds the distributor.

Exercise 58. Read the article and make sure you know all the highlighted words.

Director of Photography

Giving a job description of a cinematographer is a bit difficult because the term “cinematographer” can apply to various jobs ranging from camera operator to director of photography. Most often, the term refers to the director of photography, or top cinematographer on a film, so let’s focus on that.

Basically, cinematography means bringing a story to life visually. The word’s Greek roots are “kinema” (movement) and “graph” (writing). Bringing movement to screenwriter’s script requires more than simply shooting photos or video of a scene. The primary cinematographer, or director of photography, works with the film’s director to capture the underlying story in a way that will captivate the movie audience. Camera operators and cinematographers for specific scenes or types of scenes work to fulfill the overall vision.

The director of photography has a lot of specific responsibilities related to making a movie. In fact, the cinematographer’s job starts before a single frame of film is shot.

Preproduction

The cinematographer discusses the director’s vision for the film with him, both overall and scene by scene. Based on that, the cinematographer determines what’s needed for each scene, within budget, and hires the camera crew, arranges for equipment and buys film and supplies. The cinematographer also works with other departments, like sound and lighting, to coordinate production needs.

Production

The cinematographer coordinates the crew and works with the director to make sure each scene is set up and shot to match the director’s vision of the story. For each scene, the cinematographer decides on the best combination of cameras, filters and lenses, as well as where the cameras will be placed, what the lighting should be and when the scene will be shot. On large films, several cinematographers may oversee different camera set-ups. Others may serve as second-unit directors, shooting background or locations without the actors. The director of photography oversees them all, often also managing the photography budget.

Postproduction

The cinematographer works with the processing lab to make sure the film retains the color and mood that he and the director wanted. The cinematographer also reviews dailies, as well as the first and final print of the film. Being a critical eye and part of quality control is important throughout postproduction.

Required Skills of a Cinematographer

Whether a cinematographer is a director of photography or a camera operator, he needs both creative and technical skills to succeed, as well as knowledge of the most up-to-date equipment and technology and the flexibility to change and work as a particular film or the movie industry requires.

Here are some of the most important cinematographer skills:

• Having a good artistic eye for photography, or in other words, being able to frame shots and recognize good shots, as any photographer would.

• Knowing the technical basics of photography – how to make lighting work to your advantage, how to use lenses, and how film speeds and exposures work.

• Having knowledge of film-specific photography equipment and techniques, such as film cameras on dollies, hand-held cameras, the Steadicam and blue screen. This includes both set-up and operation.

• Being experienced with the filmmaking process from preproduction through postproduction, including working with a film house to prepare the final print.

• Being able to collaborate with a movie director in developing an artistic vision for a film and then producing it.

• Having the flexibility and problem-solving skills to handle production when scenes don’t go as planned due to weather, equipment problems, budget limitations or artistic changes. This includes being able to make fast, instinctive decisions about which film, technique or equipment works best for a particular scene.

• Keeping up with ever-changing advances in film technology and knowing when to shift to or drop in new technology instead of the old.

• Being able to manage a budget and staff, and coordinate with other departments like lighting, to keep production running smoothly.

Because filmmaking is a collaborative art, bringing many people together in the production process, a cinematographer needs the ability to get along and work with everyone. As cinematographer John Schwartzmann phrases it in the book “100 Careers in Film and Television”, “The most important skill that you need to be successful in the film business is to be able to play well with others.”

SUMMARY

The director of photography has a lot of responsibilities.

During pre-production he

• discusses the director’s vision of the film with him scene by scene;

• determines what they need for each scene, within budget;

• hires the camera crew;

• finds equipment.

During production the DP:

• coordinates the crew;

• works with the director;

• decides on the best combination of cameras, filters and lenses for each scene;

• determines where to place the cameras, what the lighting should be and when to shoot the scene;

• watches dailies.

During post-production the director of photography:

• works with the processing lab;

• watches the first and final print of the film.

No matter whether a cinematographer is a director of photography or a cameraman, he needs creative and technical skills and knowledge.

A cinematographer should:

• be able to frame shots and to recognize good shots;

• know the technical basics of photography;

• know film-specific photography equipment and techniques, such as film cameras on dollies, hand-held cameras, the Steadicam and blue screen;

• be able to collaborate with a movie director; 

• be flexible, because scenes don’t always go as planned;

• coordinate with other departments.

And of course, a cinematographer should have good communication skills because he needs to collaborate with everyone.

Exercise 59. Choose the correct letter.

1) It is difficult to describe what a cinematographer does because

1. the word comes from Greek.

2. the word covers a number of different jobs.

3. because it is a very sophisticated job.

2) The general purpose of cinematography is

1. to show a story in colors.

2. to make it popular.

3. to give a visual side to the story.

3) During the preparation stage the director of photography

1. reads the script to determine how much money the crew will need.

2. discusses every bit of the film with the film director.

3. gets engaged in discussing the special effects.

4) For each scene during the shooting the director of photography

1. chooses the equipment and its position.

2. decides who will play in each scene.

3. may sometimes perform the director’s functions.

5) After the shooting the director of photography

1. changes the shots if the director wants him to do it.

2. ensures the proper color and feelings.

3. tries to apply criticism to everything he has done.

Vocabulary

Exercise 60. Fill in the gaps using the words from the article.

The director of photography should be good at _______________________, which means the ability to ____________ shots and point out which shots are actually ___________. He should also know the fundamentals of ____________________ in order to be able to use _____________ and ____________. As from time to time director of photography sets up and works with such things as _____________, _______________ , ___________________ and ___________________, he should have some specific knowledge of the _____________________ he works with. The director of photography works closely with the ___________________, trying to visually embody the whole conception of the film. Not the least professional requirement is ___________________ skills, as things suddenly can go wrong and the director of photography has to ______________ various problems in this case. Finally, he should always be informed about new technology and be ready to ________ to it when it is needed and not to forget about the _________________ that he needs to remember while solving creative problems.

Exercise 61. Translate into English.

1. Этот оператор очень хорошо умеет работать с цифровым оборудованием.

2. Наш оператор никогда не снимает чёрно-белые фильмы.

3. Само собой разумеется, что мы должны выполнить все наши планы.

4. Наш оператор не понимает, почему режиссёр не просматривает материал, отснятый за день.

5. Трудно оставаться спокойным, когда работа не идёт так, как запланировано, правда?

6. Наш оператор рекомендует нам использовать стедикам для съёмки некоторых эпизодов.

7. Он обладает великолепными техническими навыками. Кроме этого, он человек гибкий и умеет сотрудничать с людьми.

8. Сколько нам нужно нанять технических работников?

9. Сосредоточьтесь на том, что действительно имеет значение.

10. Широкоэкранный формат сейчас не очень популярен.

11. Над каким проектом Вы сейчас работаете? – Мы сейчас не снимаем. У нас подготовительный период. Оператор изучает новую технику съёмки, а сценаристы дорабатывают сценарий.

12. Когда Вы планируете начать съёмку? – Пока никто не знает: наш оператор-постановщик ищет натуру, а режиссёр делает раскадровку.

Reading, vocabulary and communication

Exercise 62. a) Discuss the following questions:

• Are silent films really silent?

• How is sound important to you?

• Do you love any film soundtracks? Do you listen to them?

b) Read the article and make sure you know all the highlighted words.

Film Sound Designer

Depending on the size and type of production, a sound designer may have many different jobs, including communicating with the creative team, recording or finding sound effects, creating a soundtrack, or looking for new projects. In film, sound designers may work throughout the pre-production period, during the production schedule and in post-production.

One of the most important jobs of a sound designer is to communicate with directors or producers about the soundtrack. In film, TV, or commercial production, the designer may come on after shooting is completed in order to determine where and when sound effects are needed, based on the on-set recordings and the director’s vision. Working with the creative team allows the designer to create a finished product that reflects the atmosphere of the production and helps the film communicate ideas through sound.

After an initial period of meetings, the designer may begin to hunt for the right effects for each episode. He can look through sound libraries for appropriate effects, or even record effects to match a particular sound. Depending on the size of the project, the sound designer may do this task alone, or may have assistants and technicians that can manage some of the work.

When the sound track is ready, the sound designer may be responsible for the final sound mix for the finished product. For film or TV productions, this may mean using advanced computer software to create a blended soundtrack that incorporates dialogue, effects, and music. Then the designer works almost like an orchestra conductor to ensure that the mix of sound is balanced and nuanced correctly. On large productions, the process of creating the final mix may actually be the work of several sound professionals, including mixers, editors, and supervisors.

Most sound designers are freelance professionals, which means that a large part of their day-to-day work may involve searching for new projects. Freelance designers need to have basic advertising skills, as well as good communication skills, in order to attract new clients and find new jobs.

c) True, False or Not Given?

1) Making film sound is purely technological.

2) Sound designers are not part of the film crew.

3) It is the producer who hires the sound designer for the project.

4) The sound designer always works from beginning to end of every project.

5) Cooperation with the creative team is essential.

6) The sound designer always records new sound for the project.

7) The sound designer sometimes works with an orchestra to record music.

8) The majority of sound designers do not work full-time.

9) Each sound designer should have an extensive portfolio.

d) Follow-up: Go online, find some soundtracks and play them for the group. The other students should say what films they are from.

Exercise 63. a) Discuss the following questions:

• How often do you go to art-galleries?

• Which is more important: drama structure or aesthetics?

• Do you agree that all filmmakers should study art history?

• Do you know any biopics of famous artists?

b) Read the article and make sure you know all the highlighted words.