The Stainless-Steel Knife

Not scheduled

Subject guarantor:

Josef ŠPELDA

Name of lecturer(s):

Josef ŠPELDA

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

Experience with studio lighting

Mode of study:

Exercise practical

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Basic experience with the camera, ability to manage basic tasks in filming. Successfull completion of the „Shots in the Studio“ course.

Course contents:

A short feature film depicting various lightings, light changes in a shot; use of practical lighting; dramaturgical use of light; proper exposition according to the imagined mood.

Literary script:

One night's events are introduced in a darkened room in which light comes in from outside. The atmosphere is disturbed by the entrance of an unknown person. The figure moves about the room quite hesitantly and by the light from a flashlight (torch) the contents of the room is seen. The countenance of the unknown person is one of focus and curiosity. They move about the space. Suddenly the unknown person is disturbed by a light lit by an approaching girl in the neigboring entryway.

The unknown person quickly hides. The girl hangs up her coat. She is agitated, she is suspicious that she is not alone. She enters the room and turns on the ceiling lamp. She looks around but sees nothing out of the ordinary. She returns to the entryway where she turns out the light. She also turns out the light in the room. She goes with her purse to the make-up table and turns on a table lamp and removes her makeup. Her actions are continuosly watched by the unknown person. Upon finishing with her face she turns off the lamp and goes to the night table, where she turns on the table lamp. She takes off her clothes. The unknown person watches closer. The girl puts on a nightshirt and lies down. The unknown person approaches the girl and turns out the table lamp. The girl freezes and turns towards the source of the sound and in fear curls up in the corner of the couch. She shes a figure in silhouette in the window approaching her. At that moment the unknown person turns on a pocket flashlight (torch) and shines it on the helpless and frightened face. The unknown person approaches further forward. Terror has taken over the girl. His other hand is turning about the blade of a huge knife. The girl falls helpless, collapses and faints. Fierce movements of the knife and stabbings next to the victim, next to the girl.

The literary screenplay is presented but there is potential for one's own „form“ of the screenplay while respecting all the required lighting changes presented in this syllabus.

Technical parameters:

- b/w, 35mm

- 480m Eastman double-x negative film 5222

- final length max. 120m

- nuber of shots: min 15, max. 25

- floorplan, props stay in the same place for everyone.

Based on the literary screenplay the student creates the technical screenplay / shooting board (15-25 shots). Screenplay, plan of shots, lighting plan, shooting plan and budget, crew must be approved before shooting.

Approval Schedule:

Synopsis: 3 months before beginning of shooting

literary screenplay: 2 months before beginning of shooting

technical screenplay/shooting board: 1 month before beginning of shooting

crew: (Petra Lebdušková): 1 month before beginning of shooting

shooting plan and budget (FAMU Studio) 1 month before beginning of shooting

plan of shots, floorplan, lighting plan: 2 weeks before beginning of shooting

Required lighting changes: C = entire PC = half

1. „Film night“ - lighting accent comes through window: C

2. „Film night“ with effect of flashlight (torch) with sihloutte in the window with figure movement along set wall: PC

3. subjective view of the criminal with use of effect by flashlight: PC

4. Turning on and off of light in neighboring room: PC - PD

5. Turning on a ceiling lamp: C

6. Turning off a ceiling lamp and turning on a small lamp: PC

7. Turning on and off a small lamp

8. at least one shot of a metal surface, which glints while moving (from where the title comes: stainless steel knife)

Lighting changes must happen during the shooting without changes in the aperture.

Dimension and angle of shot must be selected with a view to the expressiveness and sensibleness of the lighting changes.

Lighting effects such as police blinking lights and the like are permitted, the are, however, considered lighting changes.

Recommended or required reading:

american cinematographer’s manual

John Alton, “Painting with Light”

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

Assessment methods and criteria:

Kredity budou uděleny po projekci před klauzurní komisí.

Course web page:

Note:

Shot without contact sound, silent film.

Only FAMU Studio technology:

Camera: arri 3 with standard settings (see the White book)

Without usage of zoom during shooting

4perf; shutter 180 degrees @ 25fps;

format 1:1.85;

Camera movement: panning, rolling. Not to be used nor accepted: shoulder, crane, steadycam, stabilizer or other stabilization technology for cameras.

Without VFX

SFX: Do not use rain nor snow. It is possible to use drops on the lens or wind.

DO NOT USE OPEN FIRE such as torches, fireplaces, autogenus, etc. DO NO USE explosions or firings.

Cigarettes with moderation, with special approval of the lead instructor.

According to the exercise requirements (upon consultations with the film architect) sets will be set up, which ESSENTIALLY ARE FOR ALL STUDENTS (floorplan, window, door, wall color). Changes in the floorplan, props and wall color will not be accepted. Each student, after consultation with the lead instructor and FAMU Studio autorized persons, select their own props, furniture, etc.

Each student has 1 day for preparations, 3 days for shooting, 1 day for strike.

While shooting the FAMU Studio operating hours are to be respected.

Workflow:

1. Shooting

2. selecting 480m negative in film lab

3. numbering work days in the film lagb according to the gray table / „onelight“ (single digit)

4. Copy of the daily work, 480m according to the gray table, screening

5. editing on a classic analog table with an Editing Dept. editor: without sound; copy

6. screening, copy to the lead instructor and approval prior to submission to the film lab.

7. negative editing in the lab according to the copy

8. numbering in the lab in students' presence

9. silent film copy; max. 120m

10. Summary screening: 2.r. KK, 1.r. CINKK

11. negative scanning max. 120m

12. analysis with instructor

13. grading of digital intermediate

14. sound postproduction with instructor approval

15. digital copy with sound: DCP produced by FAMU Studio, screening of the bachelor's collection KK and graduate collection CINKK (+export to ProRes 422)

Points 11-15 are part of the course „Coloring with a collor corrector 3“

Further information:

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Cinematography - Bachelor (required subject)
• Cinematography - Bachelor - 1718 - 3y (required subject)