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Creating mood

Does anyone know of any good books, tv programs on establishing mood through camera techniques and cinematography in general?

Ive found a few books specific to emotion but they're very long winded and more about the psychology aspect rather than which techniques can be used to create certain emotions.
 
There's a book called "Master Shots Vol 1, 2nd edition: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie". It might be just what you're after.

You can get it from Amazon.com
 
As with any art form, there is no simple answer to your thoughts on mood. It really is a psychological thing. There's no simple 'x camera movement with y lighting equates to z mood'. It's not so simple.

What you should do is begin with the theme and mood behind the scene and start from there. Then perhaps start to think of what colours play well for that mood, and then go from there. Think of movies you like where the specific mood has been shown, and what shots helped bring that across. There's no cut and dry process.

I recommend watching 'Visions of Light'
 
Ive seen visions of light, it was helpful once it stopped introducing all the directors :P.
Yeah its more things like that that im looking for.

I have got 'Film structure and the emotion system by Greg M Smith' which has some good stuff in for anyone thats interested. Also theres 'Moving Image Theory:Ecological considerations' that i have ordered that has a few chapters on it .

Ill check out Master shots, thanks Sweetie.
 
Does anyone know of any good books, tv programs on establishing mood through camera techniques and cinematography in general?

Ive found a few books specific to emotion but they're very long winded and more about the psychology aspect rather than which techniques can be used to create certain emotions.

Here is a short film that I shot in 48 Hours. I wanted to create a sense of atmosphere and mood within my cinematography. I used 2 Mini Red Heads and a set of Flags.

This might help you but I'm not sure.
Regards



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5lJ9C5XWqw
 
Does anyone know of any good books, tv programs on establishing mood through camera techniques and cinematography in general?

There are a couple of really good threads on Cinemtography.com where David Mullen ASC and Gaffer Guy Holt discuss this very issue. The scene they analyze is this one in “Millers Crossing” lit by Barry Sonnenfeld.

Miller%27s_Crossing_Example.jpg


Guy Holt is also teaching a lighting workshop in mid Feb that will be streamed on line for free. Log onto bit.ly/nptwkshps for details.

Here are the links to the threads:

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=55891

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=58886


Paul Dean
 
For a dark, mysterious, foreboding mood, the TV series THE KILLING (which was originally set in Sweden?) and WALLANDER are chockablock with amazing cinematography, set & production design, and art direction.

Of course they both are set in locations (Seattle and Sweden) where the bright sunlight doesn't shine much (although Sweden does have white nights, yeah?) and are subject to misty/rainy weather which are major advantages they have going for them.

My takeaways from these shows are:

1) don't be afraid to put a bunch of "stuff" between your camera's lens and the subject in order to find framing opportunities and ways to shoot "through" it. Errant props, sides of walls, flowers on a table, glass doors, windows, beaded door curtains, lampshades, glass bottles, mobiles, floor plants, you name it.

same goes for

2) if there is a way to motivate this technique, find ways to incorporate reflective surfaces into the scene.

3) don't be afraid to get close! mess around with macros or super macro lenses to isolate particular details in a given location; bug on a window sill, grime on the floor, shoes walking over debris, rain rolling down a pane of glass, etc.
 
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Granted this is primarily for actors, but in 1987 Michael Caine did a workshop with 5 actors teaching them a lot of really great stuff about acting in film (vs. theater, etc). There's some good info there for more than just actors, and hey guess what, the whole thing is on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njs6ZNSoFC0&list=PLCD9BE10083655A6F&index=1

Also, the same youtube channel has a great lighting "master class" workshop, Kodak - Studio Lighting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ikI8yFfz4Y&list=PLC1906A4F2AE518B0&index=1

And another I've not watched yet, a documentary called Cinematographer Style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJm2EGNIod0&list=PL0B0760F8C51F961A&index=1
 
A book called Digital Video Production Cookbook: 100 Professional Techniques for Independent and Amateur Filmmakers is a great way to learn about creating mood and effect with a single movie light. It's real basic stuff but depending on your ability/experience it's all adaptable and progressive.
 
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