Cinematographer, Director of Photography, Chief Lighting Technician 

This position is below the line and has been since it became a more defined position from the original “Cameraman.”

The level of involvement for this position varies greatly.  Some DPs are relied on heavily from everything creative, storyline to lighting and shots.  Others show up day of and execute the technical aspects.   

In my own experience I’ve been No 2. creatively, doing everything from attending castings to drawing storyboards and planning the shot list.  I’ve also been hired and executed the lighting and camera while being more micro managed.  Different directors, different strokes.

Stanley Kubrick was known to be so heavy handed on camera, that he actually burned through multiple DPs.  From George Unsworth to John Alcott to Douglass Milsome, ect they weren’t even credited as “Director of Photography” but rather “lighting cameraman” or “photographed by.” 

Some of this was due to the long nature of his projects (Eyes Wide Shut was a full 400 consecutive days!), but also due to his dictator-like specifications with camera, symmetry, lighting, ect.  As a director he has one of the clearest, cleanest styles because of this. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the Coen Brothers picked up Roger Deakins on Barton Fink in 1991 and never let him go.  Some stylistic choices are true Coen (specifically title shots and other creative framing) and were present in their three films with Barry Sonnenfield.  This truth is overshadowed by Deakin’s soft source, muslin-based, warm tone style is so pervasive in the newer Coens. 

No matter the degree of involvement, I am still floored by the Below-the-Line status of the modern Cinematographer.  “But, Jenelle! That diction is purely based on the method of fixed payments for Writers, Directors, Producers, and Actors and the process of filmmaking, not on the importance or prestige of a position!”

Sure, sure.  

I’m honestly just tired of having to click “see full cast & crew” on IMDB to see who shot the film.