How to read cinematography | Shot analysis explained

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In this video, I explain a simple technique to start analysing cinematography in film.

If you are a Media Studies or film studies teacher or student and would like me to make a specific media-related video, just send me a message!

[irrevenant]

An additional interpretation of that shot from Shawshank: We start with a fairly close-in, constrained view of Andy then, as the camera lifts, we have a sense of his world expanding as more of his surroundings slowly come into view. In addition to the transcendent feel, it feels like he's reconnecting with the larger world.

[bobbyraindance]

The movement of the camera is what is important in the Mulholland Drive cafe scene. Lynch wanted a constantly floating camera to give a sense of unease and make the audience feel unanchored so that the border between the 'reality' of the shot and the dream that is being explained becomes blurred. It's subtle but it's there. He discusses it in a behind the scenes video.

[alexalexis]

The static, precise and symmetric nature you mentioned about 2001 are present throughout Kubrick's major works. He gravitated to that way of communication, so the specific meaning you shared is projected. You did, however, hit the nail in the head when you said "It's easy to get carried away with shot analysis and try and apply meaning to absolutely everything when, sometimes, shots are literally composed for practical reasons". In this day and age, when seemingly everyone fancies himself or herself a cinema essayist, analyzing stuff into oblivion, understanding this is of the utmost importance. I'd add to that that the amount of happenstance that informs how good a film ends up being is always disregarded in favor of the celebratory sensationalism of the "vision" of the director, and how deliberately planned and orchestrated everything was.

[niamh]

This is great! Thank you! I think one of the greatest cinematic scenes in terms of cinematography and camera work to create an atmosphere is the basement scene in Zodiac

[gabrielidusogie]

4:20 Painfully obvious. Boy do I got alot to learn then.

[mmjaaay]

This was very interesting and very easily explained!

[charliebrewis]

This channel is great and deserves a larger audience, well done sir!

[JoshuaPlays_]

I put this video in my "Watch Later" playlist before I happened to buy a new light. I realize this video hits the nail on the head of how I was feeling about it being a "magic bullet".
Fantastic video and insight.

[Randerk]

thank you Gordon Freeman for teaching me film analysis

[LukeB-ouqb]

Hi, your videos are great! just wanted to know if you'll do any videos like this on sound, editing and mise-en-scene?

[SirevixGames]

starting 2:28
we actually studied that scene in class and got a lot of meaning from it xD
"interpretation"... yeah...

[Reithierion]

I sense an underlying contempt for David Lynch haha! Should have used a marvel movie to show meaningless conversation shots but yeah Lynch is only showing Dialogue in that scene I guess. Though, the use of a steady cam makes it feel a little uneasy and tense I believe.

[tonyclifton]

i hadnt noticed that symmetric framing and its possible meaning in 2001 before . good video

[gonzo]

The more I learn about film the more I learn that tarkovskys film ideas are not always his own

[daveys]

Really interesting channel, thanks for posting. Love the use of “2001” BTW, totally epic film.

[Haashooo]

It will be very helpful for my scene analysis in my final exam tomorrow..thankyou sir

[skv]

hey thanks man .what a great information have u given in the video
that explanation from shawshank redemption liliteraally have gone thinking about
the shots and angles again thanks for the information u provided.

[rasulguidry]

Hey can you make a beginner guide cheat sheet for for film critique?

[mushroomqueen]

Wonderful videos! If I may ask, are you a high school teacher or university teacher?

[JaydevRaol]

Thanks a lot! This was really helpful.