Director/composer/cinematorgrapher functions

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What is the relationship between director and cinematographer? Does the director tell them where to put the camera as far as close-ups zooms, beautiful scenery, etc.? And what's the difference b/w cinematographer and director of photography?

Also director and composer. Since directors are less musically inclined than the composer, how do they know a particular score is right for their movie?

[Comic-Reader Lad]

A cinematographer and Director of Photography (DP) are the same thing. The DP is the boss of the camera crew and the lighting crew.

The relationship between a film director and a DP varies based on the parties involved, but a movie is a Director's project -- he's the boss on set and really only answers to the Producer and studio honchos. Obviously, in Hollywood, a star of sufficient magnitude can, and does, throw his or her weight around and can influence things.

Anyway, a Director will hire a DP based on knowledge of their work, so a good director probably wouldn't have to micromanage the DP as he's already familiar with the DP's style. Particulars of how a scene would be shot would likely be handled in pre-production meetings with the two batting around ideas. The same is basically true for a film composer.



But, wikipedia says it better than I could:

A cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the chief over the camera and light crews working on a film, television production or other live action piece and is responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the image. The study and practice of this field is referred to as cinematography.

The cinematographer selects the camera, film stock, lenses, filters, etc., to realize the scene in accordance with the intentions of the director. Relations between the cinematographer and director vary; in some instances, the director will allow the cinematographer complete independence; in others, the director allows little to none, even going so far as to specify exact camera placement and lens selection. Such a level of involvement is not common once the director and cinematographer have become comfortable with each other; the director will typically convey to the cinematographer what is wanted from a scene visually and allow the cinematographer latitude in achieving that effect.

[Midvillian1322]

A cinematographer and Director of Photography (DP) are the same thing. The DP is the boss of the camera crew and the lighting crew.

The relationship between a film director and a DP varies based on the parties involved, but a movie is a Director's project -- he's the boss on set and really only answers to the Producer and studio honchos. Obviously, in Hollywood, a star of sufficient magnitude can, and does, throw his or her weight around and can influence things.

Anyway, a Director will hire a DP based on knowledge of their work, so a good director probably wouldn't have to micromanage the DP as he's already familiar with the DP's style. Particulars of how a scene would be shot would likely be handled in pre-production meetings with the two batting around ideas. The same is basically true for a film composer.



But, wikipedia says it better than I could:

Yea in the simplest form I'd say the DP sets the shot up to capture the Directors vision. Director says what they want the shot to look like and the DP makes it happen.

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What is the relationship between director and cinematographer? Does the director tell them where to put the camera as far as close-ups zooms, beautiful scenery, etc.? And what's the difference b/w cinematographer and director of photography?

Also director and composer. Since directors are less musically inclined than the composer, how do they know a particular score is right for their movie?

This one comes down to the film maker's vision.

The director generally shares a cut of the movie with the composer and the composer comes up with what they feel is appropriate music. Although, producers and the studios still have input in this but it generally falls on the director, they have the final say on everything as it pertains to the actual making of the movie.

Star Wars is a good example because the studio wanted modern music (70's disco??) but Lucas wanted a classic score. He insisted on it and he worked with John Williams to get this and we all know how this turned out.

[CTTT]

This one comes down to the film maker's vision.

The director generally shares a cut of the movie with the composer and the composer comes up with what they feel is appropriate music. Although, producers and the studios still have input in this but it generally falls on the director, they have the final say on everything as it pertains to the actual making of the movie.

Star Wars is a good example because the studio wanted modern music (70's disco??) but Lucas wanted a classic score. He insisted on it and he worked with John Williams to get this and we all know how this turned out.

Wow...70's disco? That....would have been different. Imagine Vader getting off his ship walking to Tarkin with the BeeGees "Stayin' Alive" blaring in the background.

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Wow...70's disco? That....would have been different. Imagine Vader getting off his ship walking to Tarkin with the BeeGees "Stayin' Alive" blaring in the background.

LOLOL...would have been crazy.

That's literally how studios butcher movies sometimes.

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Some great cinematographer/director teams: Oliver Stone/Robert Richardson, Richardson/Tarantino, some directors are their own cinematographers like Steven Soderbergh

[Kirby101]

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Some great cinematographer/director teams: Oliver Stone/Robert Richardson, Richardson/Tarantino, some directors are their own cinematographers like Steven Soderbergh

Yeah.

I believe Zack Snyder even did the cinematography on Army of the Dead.

But I want to believe that's a lot of work.

[Kirby101]

Here is an interesting story. Stanley Kubrick, who was probably a better cinematographer than any cameraman who worked for him was so pissed at Russ Metty on Sparticus for not getting him the shots he wanted that he basically took over the job of Director of Photography, setting up all the shots himself. This wasn't let known at the time, and Metty went on to win the Oscar for Cinematography based on Kubrick's work. It's also the last time Kubrick worked on any film that he didn't completely control.

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Lol, love it. The Han/Leia and Luke/Leia scenes, their background music would be the BG's "More than a Woman"