How Is Cinematography Used In Citizen Kane

As we look into how cinematographic style is used to tell your story in classic film, one of the first things we should note about these styles are their names.

There are five main types of shots that make up cinematic storytelling: establishing shot, medium closeup (or intimate), wide angle, long pan or pull away, and off-screen/out-of-frame.

These shots all work together to create an understanding of who or what the character is, and then use this knowledge to establish narrative forward motion. In other words, they help us connect with the characters and motivate action!

Classic films often use several rounds of these shots to build tension and momentum for the next scene. Take a moment to watch some movies and you’ll see what I mean.

Early cinematography

Before there were cameras that could be operated remotely, filming was mostly done with hand-held equipment. A camera would be held by a person while they filmed something or someone, and it needed to stay still for extended periods of time. This is how most films are made today!

To make things more interesting, not every filmmaker uses a professional grade camera. Some create their own by investing in all the parts and software like Moviolia or Adobe Creative Cloud. These filmmakers then edit the film using advanced programs such as Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie!.

Many people recognize these editors because they have studied filmmaking at a college level or have worked in the field professionally.

Early cinema used very basic editing tools to combine clips into stories, but some experimented more than others!

The best example of this is arguably one of the greatest movies ever made: Citizen Kane (1941).

Citizen Kane | Directed by George C. Kelly | Screenplay by William Allingham and John Lee Mahin | Original story by Arthur B. Reeve | General concept from Harry Crane and Edward Degas | Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and Walter Wanger

| Length- 104 minutes | Rating: 10+ | IMDB rating: 9.

Modern cinematography

More advanced ways to use camera angles include creating suspense, emphasizing an important theme or element of the film, drawing attention to something specific, creating dramatic tension, and even using it as a tool to emphasize how powerful or significant someone is.

Many filmmakers use at least two key components when incorporating camera angles into their films. These are typically referred to as establishing shot and tracking shots.

An establishing shot is usually just that- a shot that gives you a sense of where you are and what area of the setting we’ve arrived in. With a track shot, the camera moves more distinctly than with an establishing shot, making it seem longer.

Both of these types of shots can be used for many different reasons. An example would be to give us a sense of scale by showing how big or small our location is compared to other areas, to show a parallel concept, to illustrate something about the scene or the characters, or to simply because they feel appropriate and interesting.

Recognizable cinematography

As we discussed before, film is an art form that leaves an impression. A lot of it has to do with how well-lit the screen is at any given time. Lighting can be natural light, artificial light, or both!

When filming anything that requires close up shots (like when someone talks or looks into the camera), having enough light is essential for capturing good material. Make sure to research appropriate levels ahead of time so you are not leaving your director or producer without footage due to insufficient lighting.

Artificial lights such as studio lamps and boom lights help create this needed illumination. Since most films are shot during daylight hours, knowing when to use each source of light becomes important.

During preproduction, the production team will discuss which styles of lighting they want to use and what types of environments they plan to shoot in. This way you can prepare by buying these pieces equipment or asking for their permission to purchase them.

Furthermore, making notes about the type of light that works best for certain scenes can help take your work one step further.

Recognizable camera types

Many would say that one of the most important parts of any film is its cinematography. The way the director and crew use light, color, space, and composition to tell their story can make or break how well you watch films.

There are several recognizable styles of filming used for very different stories. Some tales want to focus more on the intimate moments between people, while other stories like “The Graduate” emphasize wider shots with lots of lush natural scenery.

This article will discuss some of the main shot types used in filmmaking and what each type signifies. Then, we will look at an example of each style in the movie Citizen Kane.