Cinematography Workshop Introduces Me to Culture and Environmental Conservation

By Sharon Mwangi, 13, Mombasa, Kenya

From the first day of the training on December 7 to the last on December 12, 2014, I interacted with the other children from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya very well.

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On Sunday,the first of the five-day training in camera techniques, lighting, editing and visual effects also known as cinematography, we toured the Nairobi National Museum for inspiration and bonding.I learnt from the birds’ gallery that there are 1300 species of birds in eastern Africa, 1050 of which are in Kenya. The heaviest flying bird is called Kori Bustard.

While touring the Nairobi Botanic Garden in the afternoon of the same day, I learnt that a person can distinguish  grasses by looking at their flower heads.

I came to understand that the city of Nairobi and its environs would be switching from analogue to digital signal of broadcasting on December 31, 2014 from our tour of the TV studios of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation for getting acquainted with the world of broadcasting.

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We had wonderful trainers from whom we learnt that cinematography is writing in motion. Mr Akpor Otebele and Prof Emmanuel Emaseaulu taught us that a cinema operator works on three walls while the camera operator uses the fourth wall.

Another thing I learnt is that the producer of a movie has a lot of responsibility in filmmaking. He is the key figure of administration.He works closely with the Director. He brings investors to invest in the film.He supervises the day-to-day activities.He also hires and fire actors.The production Assistant controls the crowd.The production Accountant prepares the budget.I came to know that everybody in the film is important.

In camera techniques, l learnt that every shot should be properly composed. A series of shots will give you a scene.A series of scenes will give you a sequence.A series of sequences will give you a film.There are many types of shots: Extreme Long Shots(XLS/ELS), Very Long Shots(VLS), Long Shots(LS), Medium Long Shots( MLS), Medium Shots(MS), Medium close-Up Shots(MCU), Close-Up Shots(CU) Big Close-Up Shots(BCU) and Extreme close-Up Shots(ECU).

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I learnt that we use shots to communicate something.The communication helps to see their mood changes. l learnt that where you place your camera is very important;lighting is important for the quality of a film’s image.