Cinematography Vocabulary
iiiCinematography Vocabulary
Developed by David Max Steinberg, San Diego State UniversityABOUT THIS LESSON
Just like anyone can bake a cake, or whip together a nice meal, being able to verbally convey information to others so that they can execute the cake recipe requires communication, vocabulary and standards of measurement.
Imagine a bakery where only the head baker can make the products — it wouldn’t last very long, and the head baker wouldn’t either.
So why all these complex and technical terms (shadow transfer area, highlights, specular highlights, shadow transfer, etc.)??
In order to be able to delegate tasks and discuss how to achieve the objective - the light meter, along with this vocabulary around light and lighting, create a common language that allows for communication between departments
Like the professional chef who passes on a complex recipe for a team of cooks to mass produce, common language and systems for measurement are absolutely crucial for film professionals.
This language and the tools for measurement allow the electric and grip team to work independently, in advance, to rig the set or location and get roughed lighting in place before anyone shows up on the actual day of production
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Learn the shared vocabulary for working and communicating effectively with the camera and lighting departments.
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
David Max Steinberg
Producer, Director of Photography, Director La Jolla, CADavid Max Steinberg is a director, producer, and former I.A.T.S.E Local 600 director of photography, originally from New York, NY.
Currently teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts and San Diego State University's Department of Theater, Film, and Television,
Steinberg previously designed the production curriculum for the University of California, San Diego's Digital Arts Center (DAC VSMG), located in La Jolla, CA.
Professional: M.F.A. NYU's Graduate Institute of Film & Television (1985). B.A UCSD Visual Arts (1980). Former I.A.T.S.E. Local 600 Director of Photography (1991 -2000).
Steinberg's feature directorial debut, an NYU thesis film, ("Severance" 1988), won an invitation to appear in Italy at the Florence Feature Film Festival where it was picked up for international distribution by Fox/Lorber Associates in New York.
He was subsequently signed as a young director/cameraman with the William Morris Agency in NYC in the fall of 1989.
He was invited to join I.A.T.S.E 644 in 1991, while shooting a Nickelodeon feature starring Abe Vigoda, Sherman Helmsley and "Champion Joe" Frazier.
In 1993, Steinberg moved to Los Angeles where he photographed the feature, "Silent Victim", directed by Menahem Golan of Cannon Films (Michele Greene, Kyle Secor).
Music video credits involve projects for Prince, Roxy Music, Lee Ritenour, Diamond Rio, Miles Davis, Donald Fagan and more.