Cinematographer= what at DVinfo.net

Greg Harris · June 3rd, 2005, 12:53 PM

In your guys opinion, what makes a cinematographer? And what is the difference between a cinematographer and a vidoeographer? thanks

Jeff Patnaude · June 3rd, 2005, 01:48 PM

The medium.
Cinematographer uses film.
Videographer uses video.

in the use of those terms- that should be all.

Jeff Patnaude

Greg Harris · June 3rd, 2005, 01:53 PM

What about if you use both and a project.

Courtney Lana · June 3rd, 2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Harris

What about if you use both and a project.

Then you should probably get a wallet like Samuel L. Jackson had in the movie Pulp Fiction. You might as well get a shirt made with that logo on it too.

:o)
Court

Dylan Couper · June 3rd, 2005, 05:45 PM

I guess the interpretation may be different from person to person.

In my dictionary, a videographer is the same as a photographer, only who uses a video camera. This makes it a pretty broad term.

A cinematographer to me is just a different name for a director of photography, doesn't matter if the medium is film or video.

Ash Greyson · June 13th, 2005, 08:39 PM

Videographers are people capturing images with cameras. Cinematographers are people CONTROLLING images with cameras. Sorry, but every hack who picks up a video camera (or film camera) does not immediately qualify as either.

A camera is an instrument, there are different levels of players. 2 people can pick up the same guitar but the sounds that come out of that guitar may be WAY different.

ash =o)

Jeff Patnaude · June 13th, 2005, 09:14 PM

Look guys,
sugar coat it all you want.
Breaking the words down to their origins:
video (obvious)+ grapher (make picture)
Cinema (moving picture or film)+ grapher (make picture)

I've seen cinematographers who couldn't make a good image on video, and visa versa. I've also seen people call themselves director's, but.....

simply put, the rest is ego.We all make images, some better than others. We all want to make better images to be seen and admired by others. If you can afford the film process- rock on. If not, make those images and get your vision onto whatever medium you can.
(My Yoda voice here) "simply do, or do not."
best regards,
Jeff Patnaude

Matt Ockenfels · June 13th, 2005, 09:58 PM

So, there were no cinematographers involved in the last Star Wars film? Or Sin City? Both were shot with HD video cameras .....

Cheers,

-Matt

Jean-Philippe Archibald · June 13th, 2005, 10:05 PM

In the last SW films, there were no cinematographers or videographer involved, only moneymakers...

Charles Papert · June 13th, 2005, 11:54 PM

Sorry Jeff, can't say as I agree with the black-and-white separation you are suggesting. Digital (yes, I know it's another term for video) has infiltrated the filmmaking process enough that the term "cinematographer" describes the job regardless of whether emulsion or 1's and 0's are coursing through the camera. I'd not be happy to lose the title of cinematographer just because I happen to be using a video camera for a given gig, unless it was a classic "videography"-type shoot (which I don't really do anymore).

I like Dylan and Ash's thoughts on this.

Mathieu Ghekiere · June 14th, 2005, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

Sorry Jeff, can't say as I agree with the black-and-white separation you are suggesting.
I like Dylan and Ash's thoughts on this.

I agree with that.

Jeff Patnaude · June 14th, 2005, 10:45 AM

Okay, I hear you.
Maybe another aspect to look at would be where the work is seeen:

videographer=television.

cinematographer=big screen theaters.

(voice in the background..."what about made-for-tv movies?")
How about a new term "Digiographers?"

fun discussion though.

Jeff P

Patrick King · June 14th, 2005, 11:42 AM

Until some group of people protect the term and have it codified legally, it means exactly what you want it to mean (e.g. the term Engineer cannot be used in most states except by individuals meeting the professional licensing requirements for Professional Engineers in that state; use of the term by unlicensed individual can result in fines and/or fraud charges).

If it needs to mean something specific, it has to be codified.

To me it means:
"Illicit pulpy vegetable handshake of the female persuasion"
cin emato grap her

Matt Ockenfels · June 14th, 2005, 01:02 PM

How about ...... Electronic Cinematography!

http://tinyurl.com/98wqp

Cheers!

Nicholas Storr · June 14th, 2005, 09:59 PM

It's a toughie... I was browsing our local industry database, and a fellow I used to work with, by far the best lighting cameraman I've ever met, had included himself somewhat modestly as "camera operator". Technically this was probably correct, as he shot mostly available light, occasionally augmenting with a redhead or two and bounce-board.

Another guy I have worked with, a decidedly average "maker of pictures" (in my opinion) had seen fit to call himself "Cinematographer/DOP", and from the database alone he seemed like the better option if one were looking for a crew.

I know which one I'd prefer to hire, but the ambiguity out there surrounding the terminology muddies the water a bit, no question.

June 3rd, 2005, 12:53 PM	#1
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	Cinematographer= what In your guys opinion, what makes a cinematographer? And what is the difference between a cinematographer and a vidoeographer? thanks

June 3rd, 2005, 05:45 PM	#5
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	I guess the interpretation may be different from person to person. In my dictionary, a videographer is the same as a photographer, only who uses a video camera. This makes it a pretty broad term. A cinematographer to me is just a different name for a director of photography, doesn't matter if the medium is film or video. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 13th, 2005, 09:58 PM	#8
Matt Ockenfels Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 62	So, there were no cinematographers involved in the last Star Wars film? Or Sin City? Both were shot with HD video cameras ..... Cheers, -Matt __________________ Matt Ockenfels a pixel a day keeps boredom at bay

June 13th, 2005, 10:05 PM	#9
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	In the last SW films, there were no cinematographers or videographer involved, only moneymakers... __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

June 13th, 2005, 11:54 PM	#10
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Sorry Jeff, can't say as I agree with the black-and-white separation you are suggesting. Digital (yes, I know it's another term for video) has infiltrated the filmmaking process enough that the term "cinematographer" describes the job regardless of whether emulsion or 1's and 0's are coursing through the camera. I'd not be happy to lose the title of cinematographer just because I happen to be using a video camera for a given gig, unless it was a classic "videography"-type shoot (which I don't really do anymore). I like Dylan and Ash's thoughts on this. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

June 3rd, 2005, 01:48 PM	#2
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	The medium. Cinematographer uses film. Videographer uses video. in the use of those terms- that should be all. Jeff Patnaude

June 3rd, 2005, 01:53 PM	#3
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	What about if you use both and a project.

June 13th, 2005, 08:39 PM	#6
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Videographers are people capturing images with cameras. Cinematographers are people CONTROLLING images with cameras. Sorry, but every hack who picks up a video camera (or film camera) does not immediately qualify as either. A camera is an instrument, there are different levels of players. 2 people can pick up the same guitar but the sounds that come out of that guitar may be WAY different. ash =o)

June 13th, 2005, 09:14 PM	#7
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	Look guys, sugar coat it all you want. Breaking the words down to their origins: video (obvious)+ grapher (make picture) Cinema (moving picture or film)+ grapher (make picture) I've seen cinematographers who couldn't make a good image on video, and visa versa. I've also seen people call themselves director's, but..... simply put, the rest is ego.We all make images, some better than others. We all want to make better images to be seen and admired by others. If you can afford the film process- rock on. If not, make those images and get your vision onto whatever medium you can. (My Yoda voice here) "simply do, or do not." best regards, Jeff Patnaude

June 14th, 2005, 10:45 AM	#12
Jeff Patnaude Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Duluth, Georgia Posts: 248	Okay, I hear you. Maybe another aspect to look at would be where the work is seeen: videographer=television. cinematographer=big screen theaters. (voice in the background..."what about made-for-tv movies?") How about a new term "Digiographers?" fun discussion though. Jeff P

June 14th, 2005, 11:42 AM	#13
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Until some group of people protect the term and have it codified legally, it means exactly what you want it to mean (e.g. the term Engineer cannot be used in most states except by individuals meeting the professional licensing requirements for Professional Engineers in that state; use of the term by unlicensed individual can result in fines and/or fraud charges). If it needs to mean something specific, it has to be codified. To me it means: "Illicit pulpy vegetable handshake of the female persuasion" cin emato grap her __________________ Fear No Weevil!

June 14th, 2005, 01:02 PM	#14
Matt Ockenfels Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 62	How about ...... Electronic Cinematography! http://tinyurl.com/98wqp Cheers! __________________ Matt Ockenfels a pixel a day keeps boredom at bay

June 14th, 2005, 09:59 PM	#15
Nicholas Storr New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Posts: 24	It's a toughie... I was browsing our local industry database, and a fellow I used to work with, by far the best lighting cameraman I've ever met, had included himself somewhat modestly as "camera operator". Technically this was probably correct, as he shot mostly available light, occasionally augmenting with a redhead or two and bounce-board. Another guy I have worked with, a decidedly average "maker of pictures" (in my opinion) had seen fit to call himself "Cinematographer/DOP", and from the database alone he seemed like the better option if one were looking for a crew. I know which one I'd prefer to hire, but the ambiguity out there surrounding the terminology muddies the water a bit, no question.