When new directors make movies, they bring a fresh artistic perspective because they are unconstrained by conventional filmmaking rules and techniques. Orson Welles, a first-time director, used his ignorance of limitations to creatively film stunning scenes in Citizen Kane. As new directors are unaware of what is considered impossible, they take artistic risks that can result in innovative cinematic techniques that change moviemaking.

1. What are the benefits to artistic
point-of-view when “newbies”
direct movies?

2. What are the benefits to artistic
point-of-view when “newbies”
direct movies?
In the Independent Practice at the end of the
lesson you will see how first time film director
Orson Welles used his ignorance of
filmmaking limitations to create stunningly

3. Watch YouTube Videos
Search “rocketjump film school 101
what is cinematography”
Watch and Reflect

4. The Shot – “Unlike a photograph,
a single shot can include a
variety of action or movement,
and the frame that contains the
image may even move.”
-A Short Guide to Writing about Film

5. When you are writing about film,
you should be sensitive to the two
primary dimensions of the shot:
A. Photographic Properties
B. The Moving Frame

6. Photographic Properties –
Tone – the range and texture of the
colors in a film image
Speed – the rate at which the film is
shot
Perspective – the spatial relationship an
image establishes between the different
objects and figures it is photographing

7. Photographic Properties –
Tone – the range and texture of the
colors in a film image

8. Photographic Properties –
Tone – Contrast
The difference between the brightness
and darkness in the shot.

9. Photographic Properties –
Speed – the rate at which the film is
shot

10. Photographic Properties –
Perspective – the spatial relationship an
image establishes between the different
objects and figures it is photographing

11. Photographic
Properties –
Perspective
Most cinematographers
strive to include a sense
of depth by placing
people and things in the
foreground, middle,
and background.

12. Photographic Properties –
Perspective - The Rule of Thirds
When filming or photographing people, it is common to line the body
up to a vertical line and the person's eyes to a horizontal line. If filming
a moving subject, the same pattern is often followed, with the majority
of the extra room being in front of the person (the way they are
moving).

13. Photographic Properties –
Perspective - The Rule of Thirds
When filming or photographing people, it is common to line the body
up to a vertical line and the person's eyes to a horizontal line. If filming
a moving subject, the same pattern is often followed, with the majority
of the extra room being in front of the person (the way they are
moving).

14. Watch YouTube Videos
Search “Every Frame a Painting Drive”
Watch and Reflect
Search “Every Frame a Painting
Geometry”
Watch and Reflect

15. Photographic Properties
Perspective –
The Frame – forms the border and
contains the arrangement, or
composition, of people and things

16. Photographic Properties
Perspective -The Frame
Some Directors of Photography use objects
within a shot to “frame” the action beyond the edges of
the shot.
They use frames
within frames!

17. Photographic Properties
Perspective - Angle
High Angle – looking down on the
subject
Low angle – Looking up at the subject

18. Photographic Properties
Perspective - Angle
High Angle – looking down on the
subject

19. Photographic Properties
Perspective - Angle
Low Angle – looking up at the subject

20. Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film
produced by, co-written by, directed by and
starring Orson Welles. The picture was
Welles's first feature film. The film was
nominated for Academy Awards in nine
categories. Considered by many critics,
filmmakers, and fans to be the greatest film
ever made.

21. Writing Exercise
Scene A 0:00-2:00
Scene B 10:26 – 12:33
Scene C 16:19 – 20:05
Scene D 45:56 – 47:59
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njames@uplifteducation.org