Mukesh Chander

As to shooting film I think we'll cry. :(

 

But even if the movie is done CG, there is usually a DP who "lights" the picture. There is still light in CG films, but in virtual reality instead of physical reality. The movie's pictures still have to be lit realistic, or beautiful, dark, you name it. For example, IMDB lists Robert Presley as the cinematographer for Beowulf.

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0442933/fullcredits

So u say tat cinematographers are used in lighting CG sets.

I think may be today they totally believe in cinematographers for lighting.

But since they lit it in softwares they can lit n see the CG sets as much as they can and I think by tat they will slowly master in lighting themselves...

In a CG set we no need to carry lights... but we can just simply place the lights here n there n we could see how it works... n correct it... so i think they can master themselves in lighting...

And I think in CG there are lighting artists whose duty is to light the CG set...

I worked both in cinematography and post production(vfx)...

Right now I am getting chance in both the field... And I dont know wat to choose...

I love cinematography as a lifestyle/passion more than a profession... But I am scared abt the future... I need money... I am depending on myself...

Even rit now most of the hollywood films are containing more CG shots than live action shots...

And on the other side digital cinematography is booming up, where we no need to worry abt focus, exposure and we can see the result immediately...

So the grip/control of the cinematographer over the camera/image is reducing...

Also I have a thought like may be in documentaries there will be still value for cinematographers...

Once the 35mm goes out of the market I think there would be a drastic change in cinematographers value... I dont know whether the value for cinematographers will go high or down after tat...

On the other side CG is also competing with us... There are lots of things to think before choosing cinematography as a career for me...

Now the James Cameron's movie 'Avatar' which is going very much advanced technically is also containing 60% of cg shots and only 40% of live action(tat too wit vfx)...

So tat only I am a bit scared... I dont know wat to decide... So people here plz tell me wat to do?

In which field shall I go?

( my ambition is like to work in documentaries for discovery, NGC etc which is adventurous and in which we can travel around...)

So plz guide me considering all the above facts... I also need a peaceful life...

plz tell me wt do u people feel abt this...

is there any good career prospects for colorist in the future?

This is excatly what I am doing; as I am studying tobe a cinematographer, in between my main course I will be taking a 18 week course in Visual Effects & Compositing I think it is the best way to go in my honest opinion as you will have a good knowledge on both spectrums. As people said it is a lot more work to take on but in for a penny in for a pound; it could get you a lot more jobs in the future.

So Matt what are u learning in vfx?

How you are managing things?

What the instructors of cinematography in ur institution saying regarding this?

sorry many questions:)

so Will Earl u do both camera operator and vfx.. so how u are managing it? is it stressful and making u busy 24/7 hours? can u give me some tips plz!

hello buddies... rit now am working in a post production house as a trainee..

and i hav seen many people through web who are cinematographers as well as vfx supervisors or even cg artists..

me too previously was working in camera dept. and rit now i feel like to go back to cinematography..

i am in a little confusion to choose wat profession..

cinematography or vfx?

OR both..?

can u people guide me by keeping the future in mind..

thanks in advance friends..

Please!

so u people say tat the future cinematographers need to learn not only abt the camera but also something in the post? am i right or wrong?

Well why can't you be a CG DOP ? That's what I'm doing right now. I am lighting and framing a 100% CG film. Now I am not very good at using Maya, but I'm a lot faster than even experienced CG animators at lighting. Not at using the software, but at actually getting to desired result. In knowing which lights to use, how to position them and what ratio's to use within the virtual environment. My skills are mostly transferable.

 

jb

hello john i guess u know things right from the shoot to post production.. is there a job like as u said cg dop? or else a vfx guy?

ok cg is used to enhance and to do things which can not be short live... but nowadays y more stuff are done in cg than cinematography? and if it is not cg then it will be composite work which is vfx.. so feel like everything has changed.. so do we need to learn anything else along with cinematography to survive and compete wit todays film making style and technology?

nowadays there are no mobile phones without camera.. camera is now there in everyones hands.. anyone can shoot today... some consumer level dv cameras are giving a decent output and today it seems like any one can learn photography or cinematography since all are holding the camera in their hands most of the time in some ways .. and one more added advantage is 'digital'.. u can see it simultaneously and u can experiment like anything.. no need to worry about money... and one day we can become a expert in handling camera.. so cameraman's job may dont have that much value in the future..

these are just my thoughts.. u can comment on this.. and make this discussion more interesting and useful..

I'd be far more concerned about the tie between the cost of technology and the perceived value of those that use it. If you do't believe this, take a look at the average editor's pay today vs. 10 years ago.

sorry i could not get u properly Michael.. can u explain it clearly!

hello everyone!! do cinematographers really have a good future and well paid salary?? does the cinematography demand has over taken by CG? today i hear like most of the things are done in CG and post production.. And i feel like nowadays cinematography dont have tat much value or pay or glamour.. because of the vfx stuff and cg done in post which shows the majority of work.. And my friends who are CG artists speaks in pride tat CG is the future.. am in cinematography now.. everything seems like tat CG is taking over the cinematography market!!! but i still see tat DOPs are given first preference in the titles.. am totally confused!! i dont know where to make my career since i am not sound economically... plz make a discussion and advice out of this topic by being loyal..

thanks friends!!

hello everybody! i like to know how to become a vfx supervisor.. wht are all the things have to learn? wat are all the things tat i should know? thanks!

I think it depends a lot on how much you make from shooting. I most definitely do not make enough therefrom, so I have a normal, and very understanding day job as well.

Can i work in some other dept in the film industry where i can get gud pay initially... n then doin my dream job(dop) one day when i am safe?

For e.g. i am planning to learn Discreet Smoke software which is been used for vfx n work as a 'smoke artist' n then one day change to my dream job?

If you ask such questions and worry about making a living on cinematography; perhaps it isn't the right job for you. check out this discussion, on an older thread, it'll give you a good idea of what it's like. It's a lifestyle, more so, IMHO, than a career.

Right now my profession is cinematography.. i am depending entirely on it for my living.. so do i need to make income thru some other means also?(like having a business)

I am budding n struggling digital cinematographer? Nowadays while thinking of life i am feeling to drop cinematography as my profession... no good salary.. really got fed up.. why this field is like this or am i not gone in the right path? If so can u guide me? also dont know how the future for cinematography is? is ther a gud future? how much salary can cinematographers get usually?

What is 'virtual cinematography'?

I want to know about grey card. for what it is used for? And how it is used? Thank You in advance..

So can i be skilled in hd by just working with it? I am going to do music videos, docus, short films.. in tat. So step by step can i learn by myself abt hd or do i need to go to a film school?

Those pro-comsumer cameras are operationed differently compared to the manual zooms used on the Varicam and other high end cameras, so there's a steep learning curve.

 

If you'd been shooting with a Sony DSR 570 or DSR 500 or other SD broadcast ENG cameras, the basic operating principles would be pretty similar.

Sony DSR 500 shoots in hd or sd?

mukesh, you would need to give us more information about the type of camera you will be using...

i have used panasonic DVX 100, sony PD 170, canon XL1 [DV]. And i think i need to work in a varicam[HD].

Can anyone give me some sample resumes for cinematographers? Is there any website which shows samples resume formats for cinematographers?? Please note me! thanks in advance...

i want to shoot a blue matt shot with HD. How should i light for this. I have no idea about lighting for blue matt. Can u people please help me!!

Hello everyone.. I am a B.Sc. Electronic Media graduate from India. In my course i just learnt about dgital cameras. I cant afford for a film school for further specialising in cinematography where they teach in 35mm. My doubt is can i learn 35mm without going to a film school and just by assisting a 35mm film cameraman and working in HD? I want to be a very good cinematographer but i cant afford for a film school. And since i am finished only my under graduation i am feeling a little bit insecure for not doing masters or a film school degree. Please tell me wat can i do? I am worrying a lot about my future..

BTW = By The Way

 

Digibeta is standard resolution, so you won't have HD resolution if you want to have a film out to 35mm print.

 

There's nothing to stop you putting the same lenses as you'd use on a 2/3" CCD high def camera, it does improve the picture quality. You can use the P+S PRO35 adapter that allows you to use 35mm film lenses on 2/3" CCD cameras. However, there aren't any 35mm sized single sensor Digibeta cameras.

 

It would be extremely rare for people to shoot 35mm lens anamorphic pictures on Digibeta. Certainly, they wouldn't shoot a feature that way, they'd do it more as an effect for music videos etc. You can shoot 16:9, from which you could do a film out to 35mm.

 

The DVW 970 has the progressive frame "film look" and its menus are similar to the Sony HD camera. It's debatable if HD looks like film, it can look like video much of the time, HD tends to have look of its own. Digibeta can have a similar "film look" if set up correctly, however, it won't have HD resolution.

I want to shoot a music video with a 'film look' visuals. So wat can i go for? HD or Digi-Beta? And also one more doubt if my project is just a standard definition(may be for a documentary) then again in which one can i shoot? HD or Digi-Beta? thank u very much for ur previous replies!!!

I can work in all DV cameras. But i never done a project in a HD camera. And now i am gettin a job in a production house where i need to work in HD. I have the confidence in me and have the courage to take up the job. But before tat can i know from u professional HD cameramans, is tat possible for me to develop my knowledge on hd by directly working on it? [i have attended a workshop on Varicam] Is there any special care to be taken in lighting for hd cameras? If so can u explain me or can u just tell me where can i find some help on the subject lighing for hd in any websites.. Or wat else should i do before taking up the job??? thanks in advance!!