ABSTRACT
The term cinematography is from the Greek roots meaning “writing with motion.” Cinematography is more than just photography; it is the process of taking ideas, words, actions, emotional subtext, tone, and all other forms of nonverbal communication and rendering them in visual terms. Movement is a powerful tool of filmmaking; in fact, movies are one of the few art forms that employ motion and time, dance obviously being another one. Establishing is the ability of the camera to reveal or conceal information; think of it as a visual equivalent of exposition, which in verbal storytelling means conveying important information or background to the audience. Filmmaking is a strange and mysterious enterprise—it involves mixing and coordinating many different elements, some of them artistic, some of them technical and businesslike. Many directors are adept at conveying their vision of the project either verbally or with drawings, metaphors, or photographic references.
