Anticorro

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Name of lecturer(s)

Department

The subject provides Department of Cinematography

Contents

short fiction depicting various light atmospheres; light changes in the shot; use of practical lights; dramaturgic use of light; correct exposure according to the intended atmosphere.

Being the final, main project of 2nd year’s studies, this short film should creatively apply acquired knowledge and skills during first two years of studies.

In case, the cinematography student is working with a director, he or she has to bear in mind that Anticorro is a cinematography/ lighting exercise, which only the cinematography student is responsible for. The director can come in to help out, but definitely not take over.

Literary script:

The story of a night opens with a darkened room illuminated by street light.

The atmosphere is suddenly disturbed by an unknown person entering. The figure moves around the room with distinctive uncertainty and finds out the pieces of furnishing in the light of a torch (pocket light). The stranger’s expression reveals a certain degree of concentration and curiosity. He walks through the spaces when, suddenly, he is interrupted by light turned on in the hallway next door by a girl coming in. The stranger hides quickly. The girl takes off her coat; she is distressed and suspects she is not alone there. She enters a room and turns the ceiling light on, looks around but finds nothing suspicious.

She goes back to the hallway and turns the light off. She also turns off the light in the room, walks over to her vanity table, carrying her handbag; there, she turns on a table lamp and removes her make up. Her actions are constantly observed by the stranger. Once she has finished with her face, she turns the lamp off, walks over to the bedside table where she turns on a bedside lamp. She takes her clothes off. The stranger’s attention intensifies. The girl puts on a nightie and lies down. The stranger quietly approaches the girl and turns the bedside lamp off. The girl freezes, turns over towards the source of noise and then quickly curls up in the corner of the sofa. She can see the silhouette of a figure against the window, coming closer. In a flash, the stranger turns on the torch (pocket light) which pours sharp light on her helpless, scared face. The stranger mercilessly walks closer and closer. The girl has been overcome by fear. His other hand is holding the glinting blade of an enormous knife. The girl has no more strength; she collapses and falls down unconsciously. A vigorous move of the knife not aimed to hurt the victim, the girl.

Genre: mysterious drama with a funny punchline; drama, horror, tension, mystery, comedy, gag…

This literary script is given, in the sense that it has to be used in principle. (number of actors, length etc) Of course each student will create their own interpretation of the plot, setting, roles. After approval of synopsis and literary script by the mentor, the student creates a technical script leading to storyboard creation.

Technical specs: see production list

Approval schedule: see production list

The scripts, shooting plan, lighting plan, production plan, budget and art department need to be approved by the head teacher prior to shooting.

Obligatory light changes and shots: WS = wide shot, MS = medium shot, C- close-up, MCU – middle close-up

1.window in the shot: balance between outside (with visible details) and inside. WS

2.“film night” - light through the window from outside (the moonlight or the street lamp light). WS

3.“film night” with electric torch pointing towards camera with and without silhoutte against night window. WS, MS, C

4.effect of electric torch on some object. MS

5.switching on and off the light in the other room; light coming in through the door. WS

6.switching on and off the ceiling light. WS

7.switching on and off the practical lights (the bedside lamp, vanity table lamp etc.). MS, MCU, C

8.“film night” with electric torch, with silhoutte against night window. MS

9.at least one shot with metal surface reflecting in the light during a movement. (hence the name: “stainless steel knife”)

Light changes must be executed during the shot, without changing the T-stop, taken in an appropriate frame size. The size and angle of the shots must be chosen in a way, that these light changes are intelligible and expressive.

Light effects like police alarm lights, cars passing and similar are possible but are considered as light effects and not as light changes

Notes

•number of shots: min. 15, max. 25

•no sync sound shooting, silent

•titles: - beginning: “FAMU presents exercise ANTICORRO”

•name of the student

•mentor´s name

• end:year, © studio famu

•school equipment only: everything from studio FAMU

•camera: arri 3 or moviecam with standard settings: 4perf; shutter 180 degrees, 25fps, (always follow the White book specifications)

•aspect ratio 1:1.85

•

•spherical lenses: set of Zeiss superspeeds

•no zoom

•accessories: followfocus, mattebox, batteries etc

•lights: installed in studio

•grip equipment: set of tripods, hihat, straight tracks and dolly base; accessories

•camera movement: pan/tilt, dolly. NO jib. NO crane. NO steadycam. NO gimbals no further stabilization equipment.

•NO VFX, no backdrop screening.

•SFX: NO rain or snow drops on windows, wind possible, smoke, haze, fog etc strongly NOT recommended (after mentor´s approval only).

•NO OPEN FIRE like torches, fireplaces etc.

•NO explosions.

•cigarettes in moderation only, definitely NO throwing on the floor

•if somebody plans to have some kind of light version of special effects or sophisticated props, they must count double to triple the time to rehearse and shoot it, so they must plan accordingly fewer shots overall. 

•after being approved by the mentor and the set designer of studio famu, set will be built to meet the requirements of this exercise and WILL BASICALLY STAY THE SAME FOR ALL STUDENTS (floorplan, window, doors, wall colours etc). each student choses/ finds own backdrop, removable sidewalls, props, furniture etc. all provided by studio famu

•shooting takes place in atelier “A” of studio FAMU

•each student has 1 day prep/ prelight, 3 days shooting, 1 day liquidation

•shooting time is 8:30am – 4:30pm; leave studio by 5pm.

•all students must be present all the time, helping each other out

workflow

see attachment of production list: “technological process of making a b/w digital print — shots in studio/ Anticorro”

please note that prior to rendering a DCP, the creative edit has to be approved

Learning outcomes

The aim of this exercise is to master different light atmospheres, practical experience with studio lighting, light changes in the shot; use of practical lights; dramaturgic use of light; correct exposure according to the intended atmosphere.

Prerequisites and other requirements

The aim of the seminar is to acquire an advanced experience as cinematographers, as well as an ability to handle more advanced filmmaking tasks

Successful completion of “lighting seminar 1 – 4” and workshops “shots in studio 1 - 2”.

Literature

american cinematographer’s manual

Sven Nykvist, “Reverence for the light” 1997

D. Schaefer and L. Salvato, “Masters of light” 1984

F. Truffaut, “le cinema selon Hitchcock” 1966

K. Malkiewicz, “film lighting” 1986

D. Samuelson, “motion picture, camera and lighting equipment” 1980

Evaluation methods and criteria

classified grades from commission (klauzura)

CINKK:

end of 2nd year: screening and assessment of silent digital print without grading

end of 3rd year/ graduation exams: screening and assessment of graded digital print with sound

KK:

end of 2nd year: screening and assessment of silent digital print without grading

end of 3rd year/ bachelor exams: screening and assessment of graded digital print with sound

Further information

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Cinematography_3_2021 (Required subjects)