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The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques
 
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The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques [Paperback]

Joseph V. Mascelli (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)

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Book Description

June 1998
The Five C's of Cinematography is one of the three most important books on cinematic technique ever published -- American Cinematographer

Mr. Mascelli provides the attentive reader with the equivalent of a complete course in filmmaking. -- New York Times

The Five C's is the most widely respected book on cinematography ever published. With the aid of hundreds of photographs and diagrams, it clearly and concisely presents al of the essential concepts and techniques of motion picture camera work.

Used copies of this timeless, long-out-of-print volume, which was first published in 1965, have been fetching hundreds of dollars per copy from students and teachers of cinematography and filmmaking. Now it is published for the first time in a paperback edition.

The five C's, and some of the related subjects this book covers, are:

Camera Angles -- Objective, Subjective, Point-of-View, Subject Size, Subject Angle, Camera Height

Continuity -- Cinematic Time and Space, Filming Action, Master Scenes, Screen Direction, Transitional Devices

Cutting -- Types of Editing, Cross-Cutting, Cutting on Action

Close-ups -- Over-the-Shoulder, Cut-in, Cutaway

Composition -- Compositional Rules, Compositional Language, Types of Balance, Attracting or Switching the Center of Interest.


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The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques + Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know + Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Michael Wiese Productions)
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph V Mascelli

Product Details

  • Paperback: 251 pages
  • Publisher: Silman-James Pr; 1st Silman-James Press ed edition (June 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 187950541X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1879505414
  • Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
139 of 146 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As an amateur just starting to get serious about turning my "home movies" into something people actually WANT to watch, I searched for a long time to find an introductory book that not only told you HOW to do things, but WHY you should do them.

After many disappointments, I found this book. While some of the references (script girl is particularly amusing) are very dated, the text mainly covers technique and avoids technology.

The illustrations and printing style point quite obviously to the book's mid-60s origin. An introduction by someone who remembers what it was like to shoot film in 1908 and knew D.W. Griffith personally should tip you off immediately that this book is something special. Still, the illustrations are clear and help illustrate the text's points very well.

In spite of what many recent amateur (and professional) film makers think, technology does not make your film good, it just makes it easy. TECHNIQUE makes it good. And that's what this book teaches in a very clear, readable, and understandable way.

Very highly recommended if you've had your fill of general introductory texts and are looking for real instruction and explanation for how to actually MAKE a film.

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129 of 136 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The five C's: camera angles, continuity, cutting, close-ups, and composition. This book takes the filmmaker through understanding exactly what goes into getting the best image imaginable onto film. The true treasure of this book is that is was written long ago enough that the author does not feel bound to polical writing: in this authors world there are black and white rules of what is acceptable and unacceptable. While "creative-types" may find his insistance on what can be done insulting to their vision, I think we can all agree that if you are going to break the rules, it is important to know them. If you read this book and study it, then you will KNOW the rules and UNDERSTAND when, why, and where you need to break them. It is a delightful read, filled with information, and though written in the 1960's... the concepts are timeless and very applicable to filmmakers in the 2000's. Buy it and enjoy it! Best Wishes....Jason
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42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
A stilll relivant clasic November 4, 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
While some of the references are somewhat dated the techniques this book promotes are still valid and useful. Some are now fashionable to flaunt like crossing views, but this makes some TV unwatchable because its jolting.

The concept to protecting shots seems to have been lost in the video world as an editor I find this much more useful that the so-called coverage junk that I often have to deal with. Reshooting exactly the same scene from the same POV 13 times is NOT useful coverage! The editor needs ways to cut around mistakes and build up scenes by mix and match to do this he needs well thought out shooting not endless repetitions.

If everyone who wants to be a director would read and pay attention to this book film and video quality would improve immensely!

While this book is an essential read for directors, DPs and cameramen; I would highly recommend it to gaffers, grip and sound guys.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Old but timeless
The example photos and theories are years old, but timeless and classic. Cinematograhy has evolved but there are basic rules and techniques that hold true and don't change. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Donna
The Evergreen
this is the best book on cinematography till date.though published long back ago,none can compare with this gold.keep this gem all the time with u.thanks.
Published 5 months ago by amisaz
ORDERED ITEM NOT ARRIVED TILL DATE
SIR

ITS VERY SAD THAT THE BOOK HAS NOT REACHED ME. I AM A TEACHER AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LOSS......
REGARDS

NSIR MALIK
Published 19 months ago by Nsir Malik
Perfect and On Time!
The service was perfect on this purchase. I will order more books.
Thanks for the special care.
Published 19 months ago by MARIO SERGIO CASTRO
Horrible Investment
This book is not worth your time. Just look at when the book was published. The publishing house of this book is trying to scam you into buying it by putting a camera on the cover... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Christopher Gilmore
Outdated
This feels like a rip-off because it is simply a collection of still from movies from the 40's and 50's, along with descriptions of the scenes. Read more
Published on March 29, 2010 by Jonathan Lutz
A classic text on filmic communication
Ok, I first read this book back in the 1970's when I was a film student. Decades later, I'm using it as a textbook for students taking my video production class--not because of... Read more
Published on February 28, 2010 by A. Stegeman
OLD BUT VERY GOOD
This book is very old but as mentioned in the text after many years the concept is still the same. I really love the insight from the forefathers in the industry. Read more
Published on November 29, 2009 by A. Miller
A must-read for all movie makers!
This book is very academic in nature, so if good 'ol school textbooks put you to sleep, this may as well. Read more
Published on September 20, 2009 by R. Nuttmann
The five C's
A little out of date in this digital age, but still very useful to know the basic of cinematography.
Published on September 13, 2009 by Oddi S. Diaz
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