This is a scene from the movie Cloverfield, (directed by Matt Reeves, DP: Michael Bonvillain) in which the city of New York is being attacked by an unknown creature. In order to escape the chaos, our protagonist along with friends, head down to the subway tunnels for safety, which they soon learn to be a mistake. The most interesting thing about this film is that it is filmed from a characters perspective holding a friends handheld camera. This provides for some great cinematography opportunities that the director and DP take full advantage of in this scene. This is a movie that is really hit or miss for people, but as for me, I loved every moment.

The opening shot is great in terms of setting the mood. The entire shot is pitch black except for just a few very dim overhead lights lighting the tunnel. This is perfect to show how they are going into the “unknown” darkness with only a few lights barely enabling them to see in front of their face. This really creates a feeling of helplessness too.

They finally get the onboard light on, which in essence becomes their key light. This light only illuminates objects two or three feet in front of it, the rest falling away into darkness, and when the light hits it really overexposes. This light is perfect for the scene because it causes every subject to get right up to the camera in order to be seen, really making the viewer seem like their line of sight is being blocked in a place where you want to see what’s coming next. I found myself craning my neck in order to see around the subject in the shot.

Here we have a nice medium close up in which the subject seems to be in an infinite abyss of darkness. Creating another terrible feeling of groping through blackness not knowing where you’re going. All that is seen up ahead is another tiny ceiling light marking their next destination. Also her face is overexposed, making her seem as his her face has lost all color, a typical response to fear.

This shot has some awesome levels going on which really show how far the light is able to throw. The woman closest to the camera is well lit while the two people right after slowly fall out of the shot because they are not lit well enough, yet another great way to show their descent into darkness. The camera represents safety, because that is where the light is. The characters hear a noise but they cannot see where it came from because no matter what light they are in, all three characters still cannot see.

This is one of my favorites. Here we have three patches of light, one small light on the wall, which really just creates some dimensions to the shot without revealing anything. We have one pool of light in the back, and then a lake of blackness, showing this unknown area where the rats are coming out of. They keep wondering what the rats are running away from, and the light tells the story in that we have no idea what they are running from.

Another good close up shot, the character is out of focus and only half of his face is on screen. This signifies well how they are completely blinded by bright light and darkness, and no one’s eyes can focus on what’s up ahead.

Finally the night vision comes on in this close up and instantly reveals what we have been hearing and fearing the whole time. I like the framing of this shot too, the creatures are up above creating a dominating feeling, and a feeling as if they are about to pounce. Also there is some great depth going on here, with an out of focus face in the foreground and in focus creatures in the background.

This shot gives us a little more light than we have been working with in order to give some detail and reveal to the audience what it is exactly that is attacking. This shocking reveal creates a shocking effect. The light illuminates it just enough.

This is a shot conveying panic. It is from the ground level perspective and there is dust being kicked up from everywhere. The creature is out of focus and the viewer feels very panicky and disoriented at this point. Also the cameraman, (a character named Hud) is in a weak position, consistent with the story-line. The handheld camera is at its best in this shot.

The final shot is them finally escaping the tunnel and getting to a safe place. The lighting tells the story yet again. Here we have a well-lit place signifying safety and we see utter blackness through the door, highlighting in a way the terrible place they just came from. Also the blood on the lens helps create a feeling of fear as well.

Let There Be Light

I am no photographer, but I took this picture, and decided to use it because I really liked the lighting in it. It's very overexposed first off, I took it very close up to the subject with the flash on in order to do so. You can still make out some of the bright colors in these flowers though. It's up against a very plain background in order to make the flowers seem even prettier than they are.

I also took this next photo on the quad one day earlier this semester. It was high noon and the sun was right above this huge tree full of squirriels, and I really like the way the shadows were cast on the little guy. The light is very ha

rd

and the leaves and branches create hard, sharp, shadows throughout the tree. He is also framed a bit to the right to give some of the attention to the detailed branch next to him.

This photo was taken by my friend Sara. The

color in this photo is amazing. It is so bright and the colors really pop. Also the clouds make for a nice touch in the background. The way the sun lights the kayaks gives a great feel for Summer time at the beach. Very tropical.

The next photo was taken by my friend JD. I really like the lighting in this as it comes over the top of the factory creating an intense silhouette. also there are at least five different shades of color in this one. It starts with a bright white and then goes to light blue all the way to dark blue. Also the lens flare is pretty awesome from the sunlight.

Portrait Of An Event: Shuffle

This was shot by Cody Abbot on a park bench near the Black Warrior River. It's a simple game of 5 card draw with some pretty high stakes. Thanks to my lovely girlfriend Aspen Harris for acting, and my good friend Malcom Mcdonald for helping out as well. Enjoy.

Shuffle from Marcus Tortorici on Vimeo.

Pre-Producktion

I have always heard that pre-production is the most important part of the filmmaking process...and I'm starting to believe it. Although running and gunning is a lot of fun, it can be sloppy. The last project I worked on was a CMF project in which we planned out every single shot, and believe it or not it went much smoother than in the past when we used to just wing it. I wrote out a shot list for this project and have already filmed it. Honestly without that shot-list, things would have gotten ugly. It was freezing outside and I wanted to get it finished, the shot list served as the perfect checklist.

In order to build a narrative of a place it's all about the style of shooting. I DP'd for Cody at Bryce Mental Hospital and hopefully I was able to capture the mood he intended to set. I felt that the key was going to be distortion and angles. Hopefully the focusing was symbolic of the mental distortion those patients felt many years ago. We shall see. This is fun though.

Grace and Peace.

Learning is FUN!

I have learned a good deal this week I would say. It's been very busy due to CMF, but I have learned a lot during it, even if it may have been the hard way. So apparently 24p means it looks like the movies? but then it when in Final Cut, 24p makes the film look like there is a fold in time taking place? Short depth of field looks pretty sweet and I think I've finally got my head wrapped around it. Recording audio in a booth instead of from the shotgun is money. putting something in the foreground and blurring it out looks nice. Also you can make a room look like its full of people with only a few people and the right angles. Patience, repetition, and attention to detail is key. Filming in the shade is freezing.

Filmmaking Goals

When I got to the University of Alabama, I had no set goals when it came to Filmmaking. I knew that whatever I did with my time here, I wanted to be able to look back and be confident that I spent wisely the time the Lord had granted me. I have a clearer picture now of which path I am being led down. I feel that there is a great need and calling for Filmmakers to use the skills and talents granted them in order to somehow give glory to the most high God. Everywhere I look, I see media being used as a vehicle for sin and filth, this could be my chance to try and reverse that trend. Documentaries seem to be the best way to accomplish this, by filming mission trips and using them to motivate other missionaries, but also feature length films can affect people in an incredible way.

That being said I have many goals for this class. I want to come out of this class very comfortable and confident with a camera in my hands. I want to know the ins and outs of the technical aspects of it. I want to know how to frame and light certain shots for different types of projects. More than just knowing how to frame the shots, I want to be able to accurately tell a story by the way that the shots flow together. Beyond simply filming, I desire to feel confident working with Final Cut. Editing for me has always been a weak point, and I really want to turn that around. Practically for the near future, I want to know how to put a montage of action shots together and put music behind it. I am working as a videographer this Summer doing just that, and I could definitely be more equipped before I head off.

Awe-Inspiring

This picture was taken by a guy I know named Jeremy Cavness who specializes in wedding photography. I find this picture visually compelling because the subject is not your typical model, but instead he is a very young child. This picture perfectly captures the eagerness of a small child in a setting and costume you would never expect a child to be in. It has a kind of old school feel to it with the sharp red bricks in the background and the retro popcorn box and top hat. In a sense it reminds me of the 1920's, which is also my favorite era.

This picture was taken by G.O. Howell. I find this picture to be visually and meaningfully compelling because it seems to sum up an American mentality and mindset. You have an abandoned Christmas day scene with the crucifixion of Jesus on the television, neither of which no one is paying any attention to. We, as Americans, typically are trying to fly through life and we completely miss the purpose and lack the ability to appreciate things that others don't have.

This picture was taken by G.O. Howell. When I first saw this picture it affected me in many ways. What I like a lot about this picture is how it captures an innocent side to a country that can be somewhat wild and dangerous. This is really a picture of my future one day, in that I will hopefully will be working in India spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This picture is also eye opening in terms of how real the poverty is in third world countries, especially when compared to where we live.