Is There A Way To Create A Performance With Cinematography?

[Zach Goodwin2]

In movies I wonder is there a technique or a way cinematographers could influence the performance on the actors in a better way, for example: high, medium, and low angles? In editing they would use "montage" editing instead of continuity editing to help save a performance. I personally would like to know how a camera man could do it based on the choice of lenses, lighting, and depth of field, and at a cheap cost and with the least amount of equipment. More specifically, a natural way of influencing a performance first as being a cinematographer, before bringing in the wide variety of lenses from 16 to 300, the lights, the gel paper, and all of that.

[tupp]

There might be ways that a cinematographer and editor could  "interpret" a performance.  And, perhaps, lighting could influence a performance, as could lenses, DOF (if the actor/performer could see those results on set).

 

However, it is not the cinematographer's job to influence a performance -- that is the directors job.

 

In regards to an editor or cinematographer "interpreting" a performance, both crew members exist to serve the director's vision.  So, they can suggest ideas and execute their craft, but the director necessarily has the final word.

[Geoff CB]

People forget that in the first Transformers movie that Megan foxes character was a young women that was trying to be treated with respect for her skills with cars.  

The way she was shot completely undermined that, to the point no one even remembers her character. 

The way you shoot a character can absolutely influence how their performance is portrayed.

[fuzzynormal]

Any good cinematography will be emotionally manipulative.  So the answer is yes.  Suggest watching and studying early movies that really explored this such as Citizen Kane or Battleship Potemkin.  I also just recently watched Rudolph Maté's work with Joan of Arc and was in tears by the end of it.

[Zach Goodwin2]

I think I may know how: where and when you place the subject, the camera angle, and how much you show and how much you don't show.

[zerocool22]

Offcourse. For example: If you got a boring character, shoot him on a tripod. If you got a crazy @#@@#@#@ character, go all shaky handheld. Same with angles, lights, DOF, focal lenghts, composition. It all makes a difference. 

[homestar_kevin]

Your focal length also has a great deal of impact on performance.

Some examples would be shooting scenes from further back with a more telephoto lens to create separation from the performance/actors and give them more space. The opposite is also true, if you get uncomfortably close with wide angle lenses, you'll inherently see a difference in the performance vs if you were shooting from a more comfortable distance.

[User]

On 3/14/2020 at 12:41 AM, Zach Goodwin2 said:

I personally would like to know how a camera man could do it based on the choice of lenses, lighting, and depth of field, and at a cheap cost and with the least amount of equipment.

It might not be so much about equipment... rather what one wears.
Eyepatch anyone?