Topic A: The Exposure Triangle (Advanced)

• Aperture (f-stop): Depth of Field as a storytelling tool (Isolation vs. Environment).
• Shutter Angle: Why cinema uses 180° (1/50th shutter) vs. the “Video Look.”
• ISO & Dynamic Range: Native ISO, dual-native ISOs, and protecting highlights.

Topic B: White Balance & Colour Science

• Kelvin Scale: Setting the mood in-camera (3200K Tungsten vs. 5600K Daylight).
• Picture Profiles: Shooting Flat (Log) vs. Standard profiles for dynamic range.

Topic C: Focus Pulling

• Manual Focus: Using Focus Peaking and Magnification.
• The Focus Puller: Techniques for rack focusing between subjects.

Topic A: Framing & Ratios

• Aspect Ratios: 16:9 (TV), 2.35:1 (Cinema), 9:16 (Social). Framing for the delivery format.
• Rule of Thirds & Golden Ratio: Balancing the frame.
• Headroom & Looking Room: Psychological effects of “Short Sighting” a character.

Topic B: Lens Choice

• Focal Lengths: How a 24mm expands space (Comedic/Action) vs. how an 85mm compresses space (Intimate/Portrait).
• Lens Distortion: Why you don’t shoot close-ups with a wide-angle lens.

Topic C: Camera Angles

• Power Dynamics: High Angle (Weakness) vs. Low Angle (Power).
• The Dutch Angle: Creating unease or disorientation.

Topic A: The Tripod (Sticks)

• The Locked-Off Shot: The power of stillness.
• Pan & Tilt: Fluid head mechanics and smoothing out starts/stops.

Topic B: Handheld & Shoulder Rig

• Cinema Verité: Adding energy and realism. “Operating from the hips.”
• Stabilisation: Warp Stabiliser limitations (Post) vs. IBIS (In-Body Stabilisation).

Topic C: Gimbals & Sliders

• The Parallax Effect: Creating depth by moving the camera past foreground objects.
• Gimbal Walk: The “Ninja Walk” technique for smooth footage.

Topic A: Quality of Light

• Hard Light: Creating drama, shadows, and texture (Film Noir).
• Soft Light: Flattering faces using diffusion (Softboxes, Silks, Clouds).
• The Size/Distance Rule: The larger the source, the softer the light.

Topic B: The 3-Point Setup

• Key Light: Motivating the source (Window, Lamp).
• Fill Light: Controlling the Contrast Ratio (High Key vs. Low Key).
• Back Light (Rim/Kicker): Separating the subject from the background.

Topic C: Shaping Light

• Flags & Cutters: Using “Negative Fill” to deepen shadows.
• Barn Doors & Grids: Controlling light spill.

Topic A: Colour Contrast

• Colour Temperature: Mixing Tungsten (3200K) practicals with Daylight (5600K) windows.
• Complementary Colours: The “Teal and Orange” look (Skin tones vs. Backgrounds).

Topic B: Atmosphere & Haze

• Volumetric Light: Using haze/fog to show beams of light.
• Texture: Breaking up light with “Cookies” (Cucoloris) or window blinds.

Topic C: Practical Lighting

• Practicals: Using lamps, phones, and TV screens in the shot as light sources.

Topic A: Data Management

• Offloading: The “3-2-1 Backup Rule” (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite).
• Checksums: Using software (like TeraCopy) to verify files were copied exactly.

Topic B: Proxies

• The Concept: Why we don’t edit 4K RAW. Creating low-res files for the editor.
• Ingest Settings: Setting up Premiere Pro to create Proxies automatically on import.

Topic C: Organisation

• Bin Structure: Organising by Scene, Shot, and Take. Labelling “Good Takes.”

Topic A: Reading Scopes

• Waveform: Judging exposure (0 to 100 IRE).
• Vectorscope: Judging skin tone and saturation.

Topic B: Primary Correction

• Balancing: Fixing White Balance and Exposure issues from the shoot.
• Shot Matching: Making Scene A look like Scene B.

Topic C: Creative Grading (The Look)

• LUTs: How to apply Look Up Tables correctly (Input LUT vs. Creative LUT).
• Lumetri Colour: Creating a “Look” for the project (e.g., Desaturated War/Vibrant Commercial).

Topic A: Innovative AI Workflow (Using Gemini)

• The Virtual Gaffer: Using Gemini to suggest lighting setups.
  • Prompt Example: “Diagram a lighting setup for a moody interrogation scene using only 2 lights.”
• Shot Listing: generating a technical shot list (Lens, Angle, Movement) from a concept.
• Mood Boards: Describing visual styles to Gemini to get reference film titles.

Topic B: Final Polish

• Exporting Dailies: Rendering a “Viewing Copy” for a director with Timecode burned in.
• Showreel Assembly: Selecting the best shots (not stories) for a Cinematography reel.