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Film & TV · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Cinematography & Lighting

“Painting with light.” This technical and artistic course trains students to be Directors of Photography (DoPs). Moving beyond simple camera operation, students will learn to control the visual mood of a film through exposure, lens choice, and complex lighting setups. The curriculum covers the science of sensors, color temperature, and the grip equipment necessary to shape light for emotional impact.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the "Exposure Triangle" (ISO, Aperture, Shutter) and dynamic range
  2. Execute "Three-Point Lighting" and advanced ratios (High Key vs. Low Key)
  3. Understand lens characteristics: Focal length, Depth of Field, and Compression
  4. Manage color temperature (Kelvin) and White Balance in mixed-light environments
  5. Operate grip equipment: C-Stands, Flags, Silks, and Dollies
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Role of the Cinematographer (DoP)
  2. 02The Camera Sensor: Size, Resolution, & Crop
  3. 03Lenses I: Focal Length & Field of View
  4. 04Lenses II: Prime vs. Zoom & Cine Lenses
  5. 05Composition: Rule of Thirds & Lead Room
  6. 06Color Science: Log vs. RAW recording
  7. 07Lighting Instruments: LED, HMI, Tungsten
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Lighting Quality: Hard vs. Soft Light
  10. 10Exterior Lighting: Controlling the Sun
  11. 11Interior Lighting: Practical & Motivated
  12. 12Night Cinematography & Low Light
  13. 13Camera Movement: Dolly, Slider, Gimbal
  14. 14Electricity & Safety on Set
  15. 15Pre-production for DoPs: Shot Lists
  16. 16Final Project: The Cinematography Reel

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Cinematography Reel

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Five C's of Cinematography by Joseph V. Mascelli
  2. Cinematography: Theory and Practice by Blain Brown
  3. Painting With Light by John Alton
  4. Set Lighting Technician's Handbook by Harry Box
  5. Masters of Light: Conversations with Contemporary Cinematographers by Dennis Schaefer
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