Cinematographers and Directors of Photography

With cable and satellite television, videos, and DVDs, as well as video streaming via Netflix and other services, it is much easier to study films today than it was 25 years ago. You should take full advantage of the availability of great films and study them closely for different filmmaking styles. The documentary Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography, directed by Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy, and Stuart Samuels, is a good introduction to some of the finest cinematography in the history of film. You can also experiment with composition and lighting if you have access to a 16-millimeter camera, a camcorder, or a digital camera. Check with your school's media center or journalism department about recording school events. Your school's drama club can also introduce you to the elements of comedy and drama and may involve you with writing and staging your own productions.

You should subscribe to American Cinematographer magazine or read selected articles at the magazine's Web site (https://theasc.com/american-cinematographer). Other industry magazines such as MovieMaker magazine (https://www.moviemaker.com), Variety (http://www.variety.com), and The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com) can also give you insight into filmmaking.

Participate in film-related summer exploration programs that are offered by colleges and universities, high schools, and professional associations. For example, the National Student Leadership Conference offers summer exploration programs in Film Production & Scriptwriting. Learn more at https://www.nslcleaders.org. Other schools that offer film-related, summer programs include Syracuse University, New York Film Academy, and Georgetown University.

Participate in competitions that are offered by professional associations, youth organizations, and other entities. For example, the National YoungArts Foundation offers the Young Arts Competition, which has a film category. This discipline encompasses documentary, narrative, experimental, and animation filmmaking. Visit https://youngarts.org/apply to learn more. Additionally, the American Society of Cinematographers (https://theasc.com) offers a cinematography competition for college students.

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