Camera Lights And Photography
Understanding lights in production is a key element either you become a photographer, director, art director and so on, it is really important to understand how light functions in production so when you will make your own films by the end of the diploma program you’ll be able to do light in your own film.
First Quarter 1-3 months)
- Camera mechanics & sensor understanding
- Understanding of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture
- Exposure: aperture, shutter, ISO in cinematic context
- Composition & framing (visual storytelling rules)
- Introduction to lenses (focal lengths & perspective)
- Light basics: natural vs artificial
- Assessments
- Photography Trip
- Film analysis (breaking down scenes visually)
- Hands-on: short silent visual studies
- Assessment and grading
Second Quarter (3-6 months)
- Advanced lighting setups (3-point, motivated lighting)
- Day-for-night, practical lighting, negative fill
- Colour temperature & colour psychology
- Production design collaboration
- Assessments
- Blocking actors for camera & light
- Introduction to grip & electrical workflows
- Hands-on: narrative scene recreations
- Assessments and Grading
Third Quarter (6-9 months)
- Dolly, handheld, gimbal, crane language
- Shot design for emotion & rhythm
- Blocking + camera choreography according to project
- Assessments
- Lens language for storytelling (emotional focal lengths)
- Scene continuity & coverage strategy)
- Cinematography for genres (drama, thriller, commercial)
- Hands-on: multi-scene short film exercises
- Assessments and Grading
Final Quarter (9-12 months)
- Full pre-production planning (shotlists, lookbooks, breakdowns)
- Working with directors & departments
- On-set leadership (DOP responsibilities)
- Progress on the pre-production
- Color grading fundamentals (DaVinci Resolve intro)
- Digital workflow (RAW, LUTs, data management)
- Final capstone: short film (festival-level execution)
- Portfolio & showreel building
- Submission to festivals
