Cinematography Merit Badge

Cinematography includes the fundamentals of producing motion pictures, including the use of effective light, accurate focus, careful composition (or arrangement), and appropriate camera movement to tell stories. In earning the badge, Scouts will also learn to develop a story and describe other pre- and postproduction processes necessary for making a quality motion picture.

Requirements

1. Explain and demonstrate the proper elements of a good motion picture.
   1. Visual storytelling
   2. Rhythm
   3. The 180-degree axis rule
   4. Camera movement
   5. Framing and composition of camera shots
   6. Lens selection
2. Do the following:
   1. Tell the story you plan to film in a three- or four-paragraph treatment. How does it read on paper?
   2. Prepare a storyboard for your motion picture. (This can be done with rough sketches and stick figures.)
   3. Demonstrate the following motion picture shooting techniques:
      1. Using a tripod
      2. Panning a camera
      3. Framing a shot
      4. Selecting an angle
      5. Selecting proper lighting
      6. Handheld shooting
   4. Do ONE of the following, using motion picture shooting techniques, in planning a program for your troop or school. Start with a treatment and complete the requirement by presenting the program to the troop, patrol, or class.
      1. Film or videotape a court of honor and show it to an audience.
      2. Create a minifeature of your own design, using the techniques you learn.
      3. Shoot a vignette that could be used to train a new Scout in a Scouting skill.
3. Do ONE of the following:
   1. Visit a film set or television production studio and watch how production work is done.
   2. Explain to your counselor the elements of the zoom lens and three important parts.
4. Explain the following jobs related to film and video production: director, producer, cinematographer, key grip, gaffer, best boy, assistant camera operator.

Resources

Scouting Literature

Architecture, Art, Communications, Model Design and Building, Photography, Public Speaking, and Theater merit badge pamphlets

Books

• Andersen, Yvonne. Make Your Own Animated Movies and Videotapes: Film and Video Techniques From the Yellow Ball Workshop. Little Brown and Company, 1991.
• Andrew, James Dudley, ed. The Image in Dispute: Art and Cinema in the Age of Photography. University of Texas Press, 1997.
• Box, Harry. Set Lighting Technician's Handbook: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution. Focal Press, 2003.
• Brown, Blain. Cinematography: Image Making for Cinematographers, Directors, and Videographers. Focal Press, 2002.
• Ettedgui, Peter. Cinematography: Screencraft. Focal Press, 1999.
• Griffith, Richard, Arthur Mayer, and Eileen Bowser. The Movies: Revised and Updated Edition of the Classic History of American Motion Pictures. Random House Value Publishing, 1992.
• Katz, Steven D. Film Directing, Cinematic Motion, second ed. Michael Wiese Productions, 2004.
• ------. Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen. Michael Wiese Productions, 1991.
• Laybourne, Kit. The Animation Book: A Complete Guide to Animated Filmmaking, revised ed. Three Rivers Press, 1998.
• Lowell, Ross. Matters of Light and Depth. Lower Light Management, 1999.
• Malkiewicz, Kris. Cinematography: The Classic Guide to Filmmaking, third ed. Fireside Press, 2005.
• Maltin, Leonard. The Art of the Cinematographer: A Survey and Interviews With Five Masters. Dover Publications, 1978.
• Mascelli, Joseph V. The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques. Silman-James Press, 1998.
• Oxlade, Chris. Movies. Heinemann, 1997.
• Rickitt, Richard. Special Effects: The History and Technique. Watson-Guptill Publications, 2000.
• Samuelson, David W. David Samuelson's "Hands-On" Manual for Cinematographers. Focal Press, 1994.
• Scott, Elaine. Movie Magic: Behind the Scenes With Special Effects. HarperCollins Publishers, 1995.
• Zettl, Herbert. Sight, Sound, Motion: Applied Media Aesthetics, third ed. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998.

Organizations and Web Sites

Exposure: The Internet Resource for Low-Budget Film-Makers
Web site: http://www.exposure.co.uk

Moving Image Collections
Web site: http://mic.imtc.gatech.edu

New York Film Academy
Web site: http://www.nyfa.com