Lighting and Advanced Camera Techniques in Training on DFGDocs

Lighting and Advanced Camera Techniques

When:
Weekend 30 - 31 Jan 2010
10am - 6pm

Where:
DFG, London

Master the art of shooting and lighting your documentaries professionally. Taught on Sony Z-1 HDV cameras, you will hone your understanding of documentary camera work and explore different styles of lighting (particularly for interviews). Through a series of practical exercises and feedback sessions you will learn techniques for observational shooting, interview set ups, how to deal with different lighting conditions, problem locations and much more...

The way you work with light (both available, and otherwise) can fundamentally impact on the look, power and effect of your documentary. The tutor will familiarise you with the common problems that make lighting necessary and the lights currently deployed by industry professionals. You will learn about lighting techniques, how light works and contributors’ reactions to lighting, as well as power and safety issues.

This course has been designed for documentary filmmakers, with particular emphasis on advanced camera techniques and lighting for interviews, however, you will find that you will be able to apply many of the skills you learn to other areas of filmmaking.

DAY 1
CAMERA OPERATION
Topics covered will include:

setting up cameras and tripods in groups with tutor guidance
basic tripod operating and practice
camera function and operation including:
automatic mode versus manual control
focus
iris and exposure
ND
gain
zebras
shutter speed
white balance (colour temperature of light sources)
zoom, focal length, depth of field and image control
chosing the right lens size
documentary styles
tripod versus handheld
handheld shooting techniques
shooting for the edit
an introduction to observational shooting

Practice shoot
In groups you'll shoot one or more short observational documentary exercises with the editor’s needs in mind. You’ll practice covering a scene in more than one shot with an emphasis on shot length, size and angle as well as smoothness and stability while operating.

View and Review
Individual feedback from tutor as a group, reviewing each exercise in turn.

DAY 2
DOCUMENTARY LIGHTING
Topics covered will include:

understanding different sources of light including:
tungsten
fluorescent
natural (daylight)
available
practicals
combining light sources
the principles of light and lighting style (quality, direction and position)
how to work with specific light sources including:
basic 3-point lighting for interview (key, fill and kick, direct and indirect or bounced sources)
lighting an interview in consideration with lens size/s, background and composition

Practice Shoot
In groups you'll practice lighting several separate scenes in rotation, including one interview situation using lights, and one situation without lights.

View and Review
Feedback from tutor as a group, reviewing each exercise in turn.

Course tutor:
Zillah Bowes
Zillah Bowes is an award-winning cinematographer who shoots documentary and fiction films for cinema and television. She trained in cinematography at the National Film and Television School, where she was twice awarded the Kodak Scholarship.

Zillah has worked with many well-known directors and her documentaries have been shown at film festivals and broadcast worldwide. "Enemies of Happiness", a film about the outspoken Afghan female polician Malalai Joya, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance among many others. "The Concrete Revolution", a film about the building of modern China, was nominated at the Grierson Awards and won the Grand Prix at the International Human Rights Film Festival among others. She has recently completed "War on Drugs", a Channel 4 documentary series to be broadcast in 2010.

Zillah's most recent fiction feature film "She, A Chinese" will be released in UK cinemas in April 2010, having won the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival in 2009. As well as her cinematography work, Zillah has recently started to write and direct her own films. She has taught several courses at the National Film and Television School, and also at Central Saint Martins, the Metropolitan Film School, Brunel University and the University of Kent.

How much:
Freelance DFG members £320 + VAT = £376
Freelance non members £350 + VAT = £411.25
Corporate rate: £700 + VAT = £822.50

Behind the times and not yet a member? Reap the benefits here

To book your place, call us on +44 (0)20 7249 6600 or email training@dfgdocs.com

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Lighting and Advanced Camera Techniques

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