subject: The World's Best Jobs – Cinematographer [print this page] The World's Best Jobs Cinematographer The World's Best Jobs Cinematographer
One of the best jobs to have in the entertainment business is a cinematographer position. A cinematographer is an essential worker on the set of any movie or television show. Cinematographers help visualize the movie or program by directly working with the film equipment on the set. They help angle, zoom, and capture all aspects of the script that the director wishes to utilize for a film. They will often work with a large film crew that helps figure out the best ways to film a scene. Everything from big action movies to small independent films require skilled cinematographers to bring a film to life.
As technology has increased, so has the need for great cinematographers. Take for example old TVs. An old TV does not show much in picture quality. Films and television shows used to be based around this technology, so the expectations for top quality cinematographers were technically lower. That is not to say that cinematographers did not work hard, but what could be done visually was limited in earlier times. Now, with the advent of the high definition TV, the DVD player, and other pieces of visual technology, it has become a requirement for a cinematographer to grasp each scene perfectly in order for a film to be successful. No one wants to watch a film that has terrible angles, poor colour, or sound issues. With today's technology, a cinematographer must be up to the challenge of creating a piece of entertainment everyone will enjoy.
Cinematographers need to be the directors right hand. They work within the budget and physical constraints of a film set to capture the best visuals for a scene. Incredible amounts of time within preproduction is needed before a cinematographer even begins filming. Knowledge of the intricacies of the film are essential. If the film is to be shot in a forest, the cinematographer must know beforehand how the film will be shot in such a dense set. Even after the film is completed, the cinematographer must work with the director to perfectly edit the film until it is complete.
Cinematographers must have an artistic mind to be able to successfully work in this business. Prior skills in photography really help with the job, especially the use of digital cameras. Experience in other fields, such as news production, commercials, and an academic background will also be very helpful for this field. Cinematographers must also be able to work with and negotiate things with a film director. Finally, being able to evolve with the changing visual technology and equipment that is developed per year is also necessary. With those skills, anyone can become a successful cinematographer.
