By: Elise Powell
Do you love films? Do you want to be a director? Would you like to know more of what happens behind
the camera? Then Cinematography is the class for you! Cinematography is split up into Part A and Part B
taught by Ms. Jean. Cinematography is an entry-level course that doesn’t require any prior video and film
experience needed. The course allows students to develop the ability to capture great video images and
audio, learn the fundamentals of lighting, visual storytelling, narrative writing, and editing. The best part
is getting to wrangle your family into short films!
the camera? Then Cinematography is the class for you! Cinematography is split up into Part A and Part B
taught by Ms. Jean. Cinematography is an entry-level course that doesn’t require any prior video and film
experience needed. The course allows students to develop the ability to capture great video images and
audio, learn the fundamentals of lighting, visual storytelling, narrative writing, and editing. The best part
is getting to wrangle your family into short films!
But, don’t just take it from me! A teacher will make or break a class, and Ms. Jean definitely makes the
class. She was kind enough to allow me to interview her. Her answers definitely show her love for the
class, for film, and for her student’s creativity.
Why do you teach this course?
Most teachers have a “subject area” specialty (mine is English) and then also teach an elective course.
When our previous Cinematography teacher moved to another position, I was asked if I’d teach it. They
reached out to me because I was getting my Masters in Media Studies, which is a tech media type of
degree. I also have a little experience when in and around film people, so It was easy to get excited
about… And I love it! It’s so fun!
What was the education like to become a cinematography teacher?
I hold a Masters degree from ASU in Media Studies. While it wasn’t a Cinematography degree (so no
camera training), it was a film theory degree- so we analyzed movies and learned about the history of
media in America and globally. It took me 1 year to get and I took 2-3 graduate classes each semester for
the entire year. I have a final project or paper for each course and the reading wasn’t that bad, but often,
they also assigned 1-3 movies or shows per week. For my final project in my last class, I watched 37
movies in a week, on fast forward, to be able to get the knowledge I needed… So it WAS work- but
honestly, it was the best!!! Who doesn’t want to watch tv and movies for homework?
What was your favorite part about teaching this particular subject?
I love the creative aspect. Students complete assignments like recreating a famous film scene or writing
their own dialogue scene. So, when I talk to students, it’s usually to solve a “creative” problem.
Sometimes, they need advice on how to develop their script or story. Other times, they are confused with
software issues. So, when I help and I get to see the finished product, it’s so interesting and impressive.
Even though, as a Cinematography course, we focus on lighting and shooting, the course teaches you
how to create a short film from start to finish, which is so important to know in our society! I love the
projects and doing them, but I also love how much students love the course and that what they learn
usually fires up their curiosity to learn more.
What was the biggest challenge of teaching this subject?
The biggest challenge for me is that I don’t have tons of experience behind a camera. I’ve done short
projects here or there- so I’m not quite a Boomer, but I still ask my son (he’s 15) to show me new updates
to technology and software. There is always a learning curve when I teach something new. Before you
can teach something, you HAVE to KNOW it…That’s been the hardest thing for me. Also, sometimes, a
student works really hard on something, or it’s clear that their work took hours, so I hate it if they still
don’t get it right. It’s hard because grading someone else’s creativity goes against my own values. To
handle these issues, I try to talk about projects one-on-one with students who I know have a harder time figuring things out. And I’ve made it a point to learn more on my own time about Cinematography and
Media as a whole so I feel confident being a reliable resource for students.
Any advice for students beginning (or considering) this course?
The students who do the best in this course have a love for technology. They are students who have
YouTube channels (or want to), or who are very into the Artistic film world. If you don’t have a passion
for working behind a camera and learning the little steps that are needed to create something amazing,
then it would be a harder course for you. My students are also detailed- they have to think about their
props, their actors, and their camera angles. They learn to add music, sound effects, and edit their work.
This takes patience and time- so students who have many other responsibilities and interests might find it
challenging.
When you look at the course, there are less than 20 assignments total, so some students push it off
thinking they can easily get most of it done in the last week or two of school- which is a HORRIBLE
choice because you need time to plan things out and also time to edit… That’s why we wait for new movies
and seasons for years… So my advice is to love the subject and come ready to learn, and also to take the
time to stay on pace and know what’s ahead. Also- I have students who call me and ask me questions, and
that is legit the BEST- because we talk about their progress and sometimes even do a DBA, but the great
thing for them is that they learn not to just “do it themselves” but to work together with me.
Was there a particular film or person that got you into cinematography?
Actually, yes! I’ve always LOVED movies, but I really got into learning more about the industry about 10
years ago when my younger brother was in Film school. He’d have assignments in college where he’d
have to create something with a group of friends (I’d bring pizza for their dinner or a prop they forgot).
My brother also works on a lot of his own content, so we’ve had opportunities to collaborate. I don’t like
to do the actual filming, but I love the editing process and I also love building a story, writing, and
brainstorming. My brother, over the years, has become a FANTASTIC Cinematographer in South
Florida, so my relationship with him and getting chances to see everything behind the scenes really drove
my curiosity
