6 Replies Latest reply: Apr 14, 2012 2:11 PM by JSS1138 RSS

    Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker

    ksemple Community Member

      What's the difference between a Cinematographer, Director of Photograpy, Director, & a Filmmaker? I know I could have googled and get the answers to these questions, but I just thought that it would have been better to get a better understanding from people that actually work in the industry.

        • 1. Re: Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          Well, it depends on the production, and how the hierarchy is arranged (often defined by the producer).

           

          In very general terms, the Cinematographer is the Camera Operator - the person behind the lens.

          The Director of Photography might also be the Camera Operator, but on larger productions, is probably a guy sitting in a chair behind the Camera Operator, seeing the "big picture." The DP, or maybe the Camera Operator will also interface with the Gaffer(s) to set up all lighting to a mechanical level, but with a style (to create a mood), per the DP' idea of what the Director will want.

          The Director is often a separate entity, and directs the actors, works with the Camera Operator, or DP, to get everything functioning, as he/she wants.

          The term Filmaker can be a catch-all, for the roles of those mentioned above, and will not be an official title for any person on the production crew. That term is often applied to a person, often wearing many hats, or might be applied to any of the roles above.

           

          Remember, those terms are not set in stone, and with a small production, one person might play all roles, and might also be referred to as the Filmmaker.

           

          Good question,

           

          Hunt

          • 2. Re: Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker
            ksemple Community Member

            Thanks for the help Bill, that cleared it up a lot for me.

            • 3. Re: Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker
              Community Member

              additionally, the only thing all those people have in "common" is they all have a loose wire in their head someplace.  What pyschoanalysts might call " neurosis ".  can be found in poets and painters as well ( see van gogh ).

               

               

              • 4. Re: Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker
                Community Member

                for example... here is a snapshot of one of the members of the Academy Awards voting members, considering his ' vote ' on Scott Rudin as producer of the brothers who bring us weird movies based on the depravity of actors willing to do " anything" to make a living.

                 

                scott rudin.jpg

                 

                 

                • 5. Re: Cinematographers, Dp's, Directors, Filmmaker
                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                  Yes, I ran into Vincent Van G. many years ago in a Paris bistro. On parting, I made a slip, and said, "Yo Vinnie, keep an ear out for me." My bad, and we all know what happened next. Sometimes those loose wires do touch, and spark (think of Sparky here), and who knows what will happen then?

                   

                  Hunt