Creating a Short Film: 07 Cinematography

The 13-part Creating a Short Film training series showcases what it actually takes to create a short film—from the brainstorming stage, all the way until opening night. Each installment of the series focuses on different aspects of the production workflow. Here, filmmaker Chad Perkins focuses on cinematography, providing real-world context by showing how the concepts highlighted in the course were applied in the making of The Assurance, the short film featured throughout the series. Chad starts with the basics of cinematography, including how to adjust exposure, get coverage, create more powerful camera moves, and use three-point lighting effectively. He also demonstrates how to set up and frame a shot, use lenses as a storytelling tool, properly light your actors, and more. The course concludes with real world projects that examine how to improve boring and ugly shots step-by-step.

Topics include:

• Understanding exposure
• Getting coverage
• Diffusing, blocking, and shaping light
• Shooting at night
• Using wide and long lenses
• Telling stories with camera movement
• Framing the shot
• Using mobile cinematography apps
• Mastering cinematic lighting
• Using common grip equipment
• Lighting people in a flattering way
• Achieving a shallow depth of field
• Creating more cinematic shots
• Working as a Director of Photography