Keenan Stockdale

I 100% agree with you. I'm just thinking it's better for myself to start early. As far as composition and such, I'm not very concerned with it at this point, whereas I know there is always room to improve, I just feel that I should start picking up other information too. Not to come off as arrogant, but as far as telling a story, it's not my composition I'm going to be concerned with, but more about which shots I decide to use and when. Thanks for the name drops there too, I'll look into them some more and pick up that manual.

Thanks, I'll have to see if our library carries either of these, or anything else related

Whereas I'm thankful for your contribution, your first few sentences make ME shiver. I'm not coming to a forum to learn entirely from you 'olders'. I am still enrolled at a university and am learning plenty, and will continue to learn plenty here. I'm not rushing off to New York in some sort of ridiculous manner either. I'm going to graduate, and in the mean time seek internships in NY, or possibly CA, this is till up in the air (NY will be easier because I have plenty of family in Manhattan). I'm not here to cram my brain before moving across the country, I'm here to hopefully get some questions answered, in which I will seek further information on during my time in school. Thanks.

Thanks a lot, now, here's another question, what are these film formats and which are most common in cinema? I've heard of RED (and got the pleasure of actually holding one, lol) and all the things commercialized such as IMAX but I'm not too familiar with Super 35/16mm, or Alexa (I believe it is?). Again, thanks to everyone who has responded/responds. I'm learning a ton.

I had read up on anamorphic a tad and get the whole idea of it and why it's used now. What I want to know is, do the letters stand for anything? Or are they just labels to help identify the lens? And another question about aspect ratio, is there a way I can identify what any aspect ratio will mean, or is it just a matter of memorizing them? I had a class where we briefly covered aspect ratios, but I don't recall much...

So, after surfing around the forums and googling, etc. I have sparked up some questions I have about cameras and such. I was reading the Catching Fire thread where Jo Willems and Dave Thompson have actually posted, which is downright awesome, but while reading some of their responses, I found myself getting a little lost. I'm 19 and have been shooting pictures (not much video) for about 5-6 years now and have picked up my fair share of knowledge on my own, and I've never had any "formal training", if we can put it that way. Anyways, I of course know all of the basics about equipment (or I believe I do) and composition and such, but I read articles of DP's being interviewed and then the Jo Willems forum post and I'm so confused sometimes. For example, a bunch of them keep talking about E, C and G lenses and I'm not sure what that translates to. Also I was wondering some stuff about anamorphic, and aspect ratios. I know about the common ones like 16:9 and such, but I've seen them post about 2.39:1, etc. I'm really trying to get this whole cinematographer thing to work after college, with moving to NY and what not, but I feel overwhelmed at times thinking about all the things I have yet to learn! Thanks in advance for any responses, everything is appreciated.

Thank you guys for the responses. Definitely taking into account everything that has been said. Does anyone have any recommendations of good and not insanely places to study for my masters could be? I have family littered all over the east coast, so somewhere in NY could be a possibility, though it is far from my direct family out here in AZ. Another place I was thinking would be somewhere in CA? It's only one state over, 6 hours to SD to be exact. I'm mainly concerned with my options after I finish my undergrad because I do not see myself thriving with the opportunities to work and build connections in Arizona. Because I've heard how important reputation and professional relationships are in the industry, I'm just not too keen on the idea of staying in Phoenix and attempting to build myself toward the upper level. Again, thank you guys for the responses thus far, they really help ease my search of info and calm nerves, lol.

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and the search bar wasn't returning anything (or even loading pages for that matter) on what questions I have, and I wasn't sure where else this thread should go... I'm not very forum-savvy. I'm a sophomore currently attending Northern Arizona University majoring in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in advertisement. I've been strongly interested in photography since I was in 8th grade, but did not think that majoring in photography would be such a great idea, so it's my minor.. Anyways, my original major was Electronic Media and Film, but the program here at NAU isn't very good in that aspect, and I've read that majoring in film for an undergrad degree isn't really that relevant in the industry anyways. So my questions are the following; after I get my BA would it be a good move to go somewhere for a masters in cinematography or film, or should I just relocate to a strong "film making city" and begin internships and working on my portfolio (also, how relevant would stills be)? Now I know that making it big, or even at all, in the film industry is not an easy task, but my ultimate admiration is to become, at least, a respected cinematographer. The main question I have is; what should I do after my undergrad?