The first level in film directing

Cameras In Live And Computer Generated Movies Film (The first level in film directing)

Photography is one of the most important aspects in a movie or a video. 'Photography is truth. Cinema is truth twenty four times per second' - The famous filmmaker Godard said these. The device that captures it is the camera. Camera is not just a physical device but something beyond. It is the eye that captures the vision of a filmmaker.

Movies maybe live action or CG. But the role of a camera would be the same in both cases. That is to capture the scene. But there is a lot more in the working of a camera in both these cases. The difference is just like the way these movies differ in their kind.

When live action films can make use of camera manufactured by different companies and come up with different varieties of lens, the computer generated films feature a camera that is nearly invisible in the physical sense. The capturing of the scenes also differs as in the real scenario it would often be the film, the tape or a hard drive. The functioning of the camera movements will be a new adventure in the CG platform. Ultimately, the camera, the movements, the shots are all about bringing the feel.

This study attempts to compare the cameras in live and computer generated films and to create a new method of using camera in CG environment. Movie cameras have undergone major changes from one of the very first motion picture camera designed by Louis le prince. The quality of the images has been drastically improved. Several changes have been made in cinematography. But some of the traditional movements of the cameras are still used by cinematographers. Many film directors strongly recommend using traditional cinematography techniques in Animation films also

This dissertation will set its journey in discovering the way these cameras differ. A study in the on the lens, on the movement, on the aperture and more on the camera that one can feel and the camera a one can never touch!

Introduction

Camera is the most important part of any live action or 3D animation and camera movement is one of the most expressive tools for a cinematographer. During recent years many techniques for moving the camera interactively in the 3D space have been developed. "While production of motion pictures has changed considerably since photographed The Perils of Pauline in 1914, some aspects - particularly those involving story telling - arc still the same as they were half a Century ago."1 Said by Arthur C Miller the famous cinematographer. Most of the directors prefer to use the same movement and shots used in traditional cinematography for animated films. Animators use key frame animation and splines in the graph to control the movement of animation but this movement. But it is not an easy job to create realistic movements of a camera in a computer related cg environment. Different techniques like camera tracking are also used to match live camera movements in live action plus CG films. But when it comes to a completely animated movie it is different. And it is not possible to interactively use the camera in an animated shot. Some animated movies like Monsters v/s alien they use manual cameras through which cinematographer could interact with the 3D environment which will give the feel of real camera.

1 Joseph v.Mascelli. 1965. The 5 C's of cinematography. 10th Ed.

Salman James press-Los Angeles.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions that will be answered in this session

Qualitative

1. What is camera? How it works?

2. What are the different types of lenses and cameras available?

3. How are the movements of a camera done in films?

4. What is a CG camera?

5. What are the different techniques used to match the movements of live camera in CG

6. Is it very important to use real camera movements of a live film in an animated film?

AIM

To analyse if CG cameras can give the look and feel and movement of a real camera and also to analyse if realistic camera movements of a live cameras are essential in an animated short film

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the different types of cameras used in films lens depth of field aperture etc

To explore different types of camera movement like track trolly and dolly

Compare the camera of a particular film and techniques used to match the camera movements

Explore the different options available in CG camera

Find a technique to get the feel of a real camera

STATEMENT OF A PROBLEM

It is difficult to get the realistic look feel and movement of a live camera in animation movies and to match it with the realistic camera movements

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

Camera movement is the life of every movie and an expressive tool of a cinematographer. Directors prefer to make similar camera moves in live and in CG environments. It is always a challenge to match the movements of live camera in CG environment. This study is important because it explores the techniques of camera movements in live and to match that in CG which will be helpful to everybody who is doing a 3D animated film.

LITERATURE REVIEW

From the beginning of nineteenth century since the origin of motion pictures cameras became an Important and integral part of film making. Different angles and camera movements brought life and mood to the movies. All major film studios and directors still use the traditional method of cinematography and camera movements. These techniques are tried to be followed in animated movies also

In order to know more about camera techniques and movements one has to go deep in to the history of motion picture cameras and films and the basics of camera. This can be done by referring books websites and articles

BOOKS ARTICLES AND WEBSITES

The five C, s of cinematography motion picture filming techniques published on 1965 wriiten by Joseph.V.Mascelli: is a book where he explains what cinematography are all the fundamentals of cinematography and cameras and the camera movements. It also explains various shots, camera angles and influence of camera angles continuity of shots composition etc

CINEMA: A System for Procedural Camera Movements (1990-2000) by Steven M. Drucker, Tinsley A. Galyean, and David Zeltzer: is an article which deals with a general and interactive system for camera movements. In which they have developed a system known as cinema system to solve the problem of combining different paradigms of camera for controlling the camera movements to one system

Mastering maya 2011 published on 2010 written by Eric killer: is a book which deals with the basics of maya and cameras used in maya and the types of cameras. It also gives some options to control the camera movements and fine tuning the animation. This book will help to analyse the basics of CG and CG environment.

Digital photography for 3D imaging and animation published on 2007 written by Dan ablan: is a book in which author describes some techniques to merge Digital photography and 3D animation since 3D animation is emerging as a major medium. In this book the author describes about Digital photography methods, what to shoot and how to shoot. And also about the features of a camera like aperture size depth of field, lenses, f-stop and focal length

Matchmoving: the invisible art of camera tracking (2000) written by Tim Dobbert: is a book which deals with machmoving techniques which will exactly copy the movements in a footage of a live camera in to a 3D environment. It also explains about some match moving programs available in the industey. This book also describes about how film camera works and about lenses and motion blur

Practical Cinematography published on 2000 written by Paul wheeler: is also a book that deals with cinematography but it explains about the role of the director of photography and the cinematographer's craft and artistic skills. It also explains about the future of cinematography

DVD

Digital tutors mental ray nodes online reference library: This DVD by digital tutors which gives an idea of camera lens shaders in maya and mental ray which will give a realistic look and feel to the environment. It also give some help to control the depth of field exposure control and stuffs like that

Introduction to animation in maya digital tutors: this DVD deals with the basics of animation and graph editor which will help to control the movement of camera in 3D animation. It helps to fine tune the animation techniques that can be used to control the camera movement

WEB SITES

Film reference - Camera movement (http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Academy-Awards-Crime-Films/Camera-Movement.html) Accessed on 27 -09-2009: This website gives the basic information of camera movements and the importance of camera movements used in films. It have information about the types of camera movements and functions

How different is cinematography in animation (http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php/t-803200.html) Accessed on 27 -09-2009: This is a discussion by people in the animation industry about the cameras and camera movements. They have mentioned about some tools and techniques about matching the camera movements. There is also a discussion about the importance of traditional camera moves in CG films

DreamWorks' Monsters Vs. Aliens Digital Effects : Hollywood FX (http://vodpod.com/watch/1707148-dreamworks-monsters-vs-aliens-digital-effects-hollywood-fx) Accessed on 27 -09-2009: This page is having a video showing the working of monsters v/s aliens and their new technology to move the camera manually with the hand in a 3D environment.

Camera movement in wings of desire

(http://pov.imv.au.dk/Issue_04/section_1/artc5A.html) ) Accessed on 27 -09-2009: This page describes about the camera movements in the movie wings of desire. In this the author has described about many shots in the movie and the movements of the camera and the point of view shots which were remarkably fluid. This will helpful to learn traditional cinematography techniques

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The dissertation is that of qualitative and quantitative in the study of the topic "A comparative study of live and CG cameras" This research will cover book, web pages and secondary information. This research mainly deals with cameras and camera movements in live and CG films.

A thorough study of what is camera and how it works will be done and the fundamentals of lenses will be explored. This study helps to get enough knowledge cameras which can be used in analysing the features of CG camera

The basic cinematography techniques and its evolution will be explored which will give the information of camera movements and techniques used for the movements of live camera which can be applied to CG camera later

The Camera in cg will be studied thoroughly and the techniques used in animation movies will also be considered. Different types of lens shaders that can be connected to CG camera area will also be analysed.

A survey will be conducted about the necessity realistic camera movements in CG movies with a group of people

Scope

This topic has a lot of scope such as it will avail a near live action cinematic experience while watching a 3D film and it will also help to create a human feel in the motion of the camera.

Limitations

This topic is not much explored before so only limited number of literature which exactly tells about the topic exists to refer to.

It's not easy to get in touch with the makers of animated movies in Hollywood to get more details of the movie

This topic is limited to cameras movements and the features in live and CG environment only

Sampling

Both random sampling and judgement sampling will be used in my research. Random sampling will be used to know about the influence of camera movements among common people and their interests. Judgement sampling will be taken from the people in the film industry to know more about their interests and their suggestions.

CHAPTER 4- CAMERAS

Overview

Camera is a box type device that basically stores or records an image and it is a box that controls the amount of light that is reaching a film or some kind of similar surface. The meaning of the word camera is chamber. The first cameras were looking like a chamber. The first cameras used pin holes to focus the light on to the surface. Today's cameras use lenses to focus the light. There is much advancement in camera but still it's just a box that controls the amount of light. Cameras can be still or video. A still camera takes one frame at a time while a video camera takes much number of frames per second

We can say that camera is same as that of wood carver's chisel. The chisel is not the one making the art work but the wood carver is. Camera just is a tool that takes the photograph but we are taking the photograph and we are in control of the photograph not the camera.

So to be very simple the camera works in such a way that the lens focuses an image in to a film for a fixed amount of time and the image is stored in the film or sensor. So the basic components of a camera are lens that focuses the light. The shutter that controls the amount of light and the film or sensor that captures the image.

History

People were trying to understand learn and record the light for more than 2000 years. Greek and Chinese philosophers discussed about the basic principles of optics as early as 4 and fifth century BC. These techniques and principles were still used today. Muslim astronomer and mathematician Ibn

Alhaytham invented the camera in the 19th century. And camera came from the Arabic work karma which means room. After being adapted to Latin this word became camera and the later camera obscura which means dark room. 1 (Dan Alban. 2007)

A camera works on two basic principles, a positive process and a negative process. although was known for hundreds of years before. It was William Talbot who brought things to shape when he pioneered the process in the mid 1800 in England. Initially pinholes were used to let a specific amount of light into a dark box. This was the first part of the process. The second part involved a chemical change in the materials of the film and the photograph is saved. lenses replaced pinholes in the twentieth century, and film was manufactured to permanently record the exposed image. Along the way, the art of photography has evolved, but the basic principles have remained the same. Light enters through a glass lens and is recorded onto a material, coated with specific light-sensitive chemicals, also known as film. And although many variations of film exist-from black-and-white to color to infrared-photographers have been rapidly migrating to the new, digital age, leaving all film behind. 1 (Dan Alban. 2007)

Today chemical process has given away and is replaced by digital techniques. We cannot say film techniques are completely replaced by digital methods but in case of general consumers, prosumers, and professional shooters, a good majority are going for digital techniques and Hollywood is leaning towards digital. Now a days even inexpensive digital cameras can match film resolution. But to choose film or digital is really a subjective choice of individual.

1 Dan Alban. 2007. Digital Photography for 3D imaging and animation. 2nd edition. Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Cameras in 3D and 3D films

3D animation has come of age in the past 10 years even though this technology has begun since 1974.

Like the cameras in real world there are cameras in 3D environment also but the method of working of a 3D camera is entirely different. It just simulates a real camera and it doesn't need to capture every frame in a film or sensor like the real camera. But the features of a 3D camera will resemble like a real live camera. Some features like focal length are common in both the cameras. Perspective and orthographic views are by default available in the softwares. Focal length of a 3D camera is very similar to that of an analogue camera and has all the properties similar to it. To be very simple 3D environment is just a simulation of the real world and all the values are estimated and calculated by computer

Although 3D camera is very flexible the computer needs to calculate everything and it's slower than capturing the frame in a camera and the process of making an image in computer is called rendering. While a live camera records an image frame by frame a 3D camera renders an image frame by frame. We can animate the camera and attributes in the camera to give amazing effects and impossible shots in the movie. But still its computer generated and the movements will look computer generated.

CHAPTER 5 CAMERA PRINCIPLES AND ITS WORKING

Working of a camera

The working principle behind camera is fairly simple. A basic camera has 3 elements: optical element, chemical element and mechanical element. The only trick is to capture the image in a crisp and clear way. The lens is the optical component of the camera. To be very simple Lens can be defined as a curved piece of plastic or glass material. The job of the lens is to focus the light bouncing from a particular image and re-create the image when they come together. This is all possible by a principle called refraction which means bending of light. Light will bend when travelling from one medium to another because of the change in the speed. Light bends when it enters the lens and bends again when it is coming out of it. So in a convex lens light converges at a particular point. At the point where the rays converge real image is created. The more thicker the lens is the more acute the bending angle because light has to travel more distance through the lens. Increasing the bending angle has a significant effect. The more is the bending angle the more closer will be the merging point to the lens. It also affects the size of the real image created. 1

Increasing the distance between the lens and the image increases the size of the image also for example a projector. The size of the image increases as we increase the distance between a projector and the screen. Same happens in a lens. If the distance is more light has to spread out more and create a more bigger image. But the film size is the same so lenses with small focal length creates a big image but the film is exposed to the middle of it only magnifying a small section in front of us. But a rounder lens creates a smaller image on the film sees a much wider area of the scene. Different lenses can be attached to a camera creating different effects to the scene. 1

Different lenses are used in different situations. For example telephoto lens is used to shoot a mountain range which is a length with long focal length. For taking a close up portrait wide angle lens is used which has a very small focal length and which shrinks the face to the film. 1

The chemical component of the traditional camera is the film, when the film is exposed to light chemical reaction takes place and the light is recorded in the film. Film is composed of tiny light sensitive grains which are coated over plastic. These are undergoing chemical reactions when exposed to sunlight. One the film roll is completed it is taken out and washed with other chemical and washed. Thus a negative is created this negative is converted to positive while printing or projecting.1

To capture in a film properly we have to keep the film in complete darkness and precisely control how much light should pass. That is controlled by shutter and aperture. 1

1 How stuff works. How camera works. [Online] Available at: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/camera.htm[Accessed 23 october 2010].

Working with lenses

Lens is one of the important parts of photography. Lens is what which all the excitement. It controls the light entering the camera and determines the focus and also it also gives u light control through f-stop and apertures. Lenses are designed same for film and digital cameras. But the way in which a sensor react may vary with film. Choosing the right lens can be a very complex because we have to consider the cost size weight and image quality of the lens. Most of the cameras are comprised of different lens elements. The objective of these elements is to recreate the image more accurately as possible.2

Image 1- Illustration of the working of the lens and its components.1

When the lenses do not focus on a single point it will cause image blurring. Chromatic abrasion, reduced contrast or misalignment of colours. Some of these problems may be present in any of the lenses. 2

Focal length of the lens is the one that decides the angle of view and so the amount of magnification. Wide angle lenses have small focal length and telephoto lenses have large focal length. We can say that wide angle lenses stretches perspective whereas A telephoto lens flattens perspective. 2

1 Understanding camera lenses. [Online] Available at: http://images.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/tut_lensflare_elements.png[Accessed 23 october 2010].

1 Understanding camera lenses. [Online] Available at: http://images.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/tut_lensflare_elements.png [Accessed 23 october 2010].

Zoom lenses and prime lenses

Zoom lenses and prime lenses are available in which zoom lenses can be used with variable focal lengths while prime lenses are having only a fixed focal length.

Construction

As said before a lens is made of many elements. Front element is one of the most important in the whole assembly. It is made of abrasion resistant materials and it is constructed in such a way that reflection and lens flare are minimum. Focusing of the lens is done by adjusting the distance between the lens assembly and the image plane or by moving the lens assembly.

Glass is one of the most common materials used for the construction of the lenses because of the good optical property and its resistance to scratching. Other materials such as plastic and quartz glass is also used for the manufacture of the lens. Even germanium and meteoritic glass are also used in the manufacture of glasses. Most of the lenses are multi coated to remove unwanted flare and reflection

Aperture and f-stop

Aperture is very important in 3dD imaging and photography. Aperture determines the amount of light that enters the camera and hit the sensor or the film. A narrow aperture limits the light for a brightly lit situation like in figure 2.

A wide aperture is used to shoot a low lit situation since a wide aperture allows more light to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_lens