Los Angeles Acting Teacher needs help

[Jagger Christian]

Hey Guys! (Any female Red One Owners?!?)

I've been an acting teacher in Los Angeles for over 10 years at a very well respected school.

This year so far, some of my students have been on "The Office", "CSI" and booked contract roles on "Young and the Restless", "As the World Turns" and in Feature Films.

Our school has trained such actors as Ashley Judd, Scott Caan, James Franco (Golden Globe Winner), Heather Graham, Jim Carey, Lake Bell, etc.

And I've taught classes with Jeff Goldblum for years.

I've directed plays and films and have had no problem as a director in the acting department. When I was in High School, I wanted to go to Film School, but I took the acting route instead.

I have incredible respect for Cinematographers, maybe more so than actors, because so many just want to be "Stars" and not learn the craft. I've had the opportunity to work with greats like the late Conrad Hall, but as a director coming from an acting background, I want to know so much more about Cinematography. I've read books like "Shot by Shot", but what other advice can anyone give about how I can be the best director that cinematographers can work with.

Thank you, in advance!

[Tom Lowe]

Learn the basics of photography and cinematography, then you will be able to at least somewhat speak the same language as your camera department. Check out docs like Cinematographer Style and Visions of Light if you haven't seen them already. And do what you're doing - read and post at cinematography spots on the net.

Read American Cinematographer, as well.

[Albert Cheng]

Most directors rely heavily on their cinematographer. Most don't take the time or have the inclination to learn more about the cinematographers craft, so...it's always nice when director and dp can communicate very well on a certain level. Good for you.

Here are some suggestions that I have if you are so inclined:

1. As tom pointed out, learn photography if you don't know it already. Take a class. This will help you get a big chunk of the visual grounding.

2. As tom pointed out, watch Visions of Light for some amazing inspiration.

3. Be conscious of the lighting and camera when watching movies. Try to identify styles and cinematographers you like and admire. Then watch their movies. Make a list of your favorites...there are many great ones. A few that I like include:

Vittorio Storaro, Conrad Hall, Vilmos Zsigmond, Sven Nykvist, Nestor Almendros, Christopher Doyle, Chris Menges, Darius Khondji, Janusz Kaminski, Greg Toland, Michael Ballhaus, Roger Deakins,

4. There are some good cinemtography books out there, here are a few that would be good to have:
The 5 C's of Cinematography (Joseph Mascelli)
Motion Picture and Video Lighting 2nd ed (Blain Brown)
Reflections: Tweny-One Cinematographers (ASC Press)

5. UCLA extension (assuming you are in LA) offers a course called Cinematography for Directors.

6. Work more with dp's who are willing to share their knowledge.

7. Attend and participate at the frequent cinematography lighting workshops, events, and societies that many of us participate in to learn the craft.

Hope that helps you get started :)

[10s]

I would have suggested you hang out with Connie but of course, that won't work now. Go ask David Mullen here under the Cinematography heading, he'll give you excellent advice.

My advice: Start with the book, Bare Bones Camera Course for Film & Video by Tom Schroeppel (this is the best beginners book available,it will have you up & running in 3 hours) then go on to, The Five C's of Cinematography by Joseph Mascelli, you've got Shot by Shot (good! it's one of the very best)

Study the American Cinematography Manual, and David Mullen has a book, Cinematography, coauthored with Kris Malkiewicz...it's very good. Also there's a great text on lighting by Dave Viera, titled, Lighting. I also like, Grammar of Film Language, by Arijon.

Take the advice given above and get a video camera (learn it inside/out) ... and practice, practice, practice, composition, lighting, etc... and to really make sense of it, edit, edit, edit, so you know what cuts together and what doesn't.