The Style of Cinema

You are sitting in the dark staring blankly onto the screen before you. You’re not sure when it happened, but, there it is. Pupils widen. Your heart starts to pound. Blood pressure slightly rises. You can feel yourself holding your breath. Remind yourself to breath. The vision fed to you overwhelms with its beauty along with the score. It’s almost too much. You don’t know how they did it, but, you know you love that feeling. Something moved you. That’s art. Now, thank the cinematographer. How was it for you?

I know that when I was very young I would love to watch the award ceremonies with my family. Mostly I loved to watch the celebrities. I wanted to see the actors and the directors. I didn’t really know what a cinematographer or director of photography was. I didn’t know how crucial these people are for a film. But, after all, it is film (think a beautiful photograph) that we’re talking about. I like to think of it as many beautifully done photographs put into motion. Simple, yet, it gets my point across. These cinematographers are the people who create your bond with the film. The reason you were completely enveloped in Na'vi culture during Avatar. The reason your mouth dropped open while watching the slow motion dream scenes during Inception. I could keep going on and on…

I know what other movie buffs are thinking. What about the director? It was the director’s vision in the first place! Come on! Give credit where it’s due. I know, people. I am fully aware of the importance of the King of the show. But, it’s important to give homage to cinematographers because, quite frankly, these freakishly creative masterminds don’t get enough play. It’s not even fair. And I’m the kind of person who enjoys giving credit where it’s due. Let’s say the director comes to the cinematographer and gives him the whole idea and vision of the scene. Then, the cinematographer’s job is to zero in on what the scene is going to do for the audience artistically. In order to achieve a specific emotion by the audience there needs to be many elements used. Lighting and camera movement or placement is one major way a cinematographer can get you into the movie. So, not only do these people have to think like a mechanic or a technician (constantly figuring out how to make the director’s vision come to fruition using science) …they also have to have the creativity of an artist.

So next time you are thinking about how fabulous a movie is, remember the person that earned some recognition along with the obvious. Try re-watching your favorite film and identify the subtle artistry that leads you to emote. Take it all in and enjoy.