The Five C's Of Cinematogrpahy

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The cinematography is an art of motion picture. It is a technology that includes the shooting as well as the development of movies. It is a fundamental of producing movies by using cameras, lights, accurate position and careful composition.

Joseph V.Mascelli has written a book 5 c's of cinematography that can be of a great help to many students and professionals who are working on this. He has discussed certain points that are essential.

Most of us have digital and movie cameras these days. Many have professional one even but they are still daunting when they capture moments. This is because they are unaware of the 5 c's of cinematography highlighted by Joseph V.Mascelli in his book 5 C's of cinematography.

In his book he has discussed following 5 C's

• Camera angles
• Continuity
• Cutting
• Closeups
• Composition

CAMERA ANGLES: Everything in a motion picture or in a still shot based on the camera angle. A carefully-chosen camera angle can enhance the dramatic visualization where as the carelessly taken shot may not comprehend the message. The camera angle is influenced by many factors. It should answer two questions; what is the viewpoint? How much area an angle should cover? This is because the camera angle determines both an audience viewpoint and the area covered in the shot. For this the selection of camera angle is a foremost decision in taking a picture of interest.

CONTINUITY: A continuous, smooth and logical flow of visual images decides the failure or a success of any movie. It is the continuity of ideas, thoughts, feelings that attracts an audience as it portrays events realistically. The picture with faulty continuity distract your audience. It is important to have continuity as it makes people emotionally stick to what they are watching as a motion picture is full of events and all those events should be depicted as real life events. The series of scenes and sequence are essential to wake up the real feeling in audience for making them emotionally attach to your work.

CUTTING: Cutting is a phase to bring out the sequence in a form in which it should be presented. This is done to eliminate mismatched scenes, cutting on camera movement and to check either any scene has not missed out. The film crew including writer, director, producer, editor and all the members who are part of that teams need to make sure that all scenes are revised and portraying the original concept of the story.

CLOSEUPS: Closeup is a unique tool that is used to portray any action, a face or a small object, in order to create clarity to make the audience involve in that scene, eliminating all the nonessential elements and focusing on the important one. Closeup gives the detailed description of actions, performances, faces.it is the most powerful storytelling device that should be reserved for vital spots and events so the impact the filmmaker wants to give is assured on the audience.

COMPOSITION: good composition is necessary as it attracts the audience, it is unified image of the rest of the 4 c's. A cameraman composes when he positions the camera, placement and movement of characters should be planned within the setting of the camera. The manner in which the scenes are composed, lighted, acted by characters all motivate the audience and make them emotional. The best use of the camera that is technology and your artistic skills that are inborn but need to be enhanced and polished by the time both are essential to bring out the good composition.

All of these 5 c's has further classification that should be studied and read for polishing skills for pointing out the mistakes that most of the directors and cameraman are making while shooting events.

Cinematography best described by Joseph V.Mascelli in his book 5 c’s of cinematography. For capturing the lively moments one should focus on these 5 C’s.

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