Christopher Doyle on "Life of Pie" and the Oscars ^^

[Paul Hudson]

I love his work but boy is he an angry man.

 

[Michel Hafner]

I can't take someone seriously that uses the f word profusely...

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

Cinematography (from Greek: κίνημα, kinema "movements" and γράφειν, graphein "to record") is the art or science of motion picture photography. It is the technique of movie photography, including both the shooting and development of the film.

CGI storytelling is not "recording" as in "capturing" anything. Imagery is being drawn inside of and rendered out of a computer.
Not "recorded". "Generated". There is no "shooting". No "-graphy".

There is no real movement to capture (apart from MoCap), and no movement happening in real-time as in typical filmmaking, as the scene, objects, characters and all motion including camera movements are: a) pre-programmed and exist only as static values until the image sequence is rendered out and played; b) not based on physical laws and real organic motion but based on algorithms simulating them (apart from MoCap which is computer modified as well).


...regarding etymology and term usage.



In addition:

- There is no direct interaction of the cinematographer with the scene, characters or motion in the shot.

- Cinematographer does not "feel" the scene, light and space and adapt to them. He does not measure the light, calculate and manipulate it. The CGI artist does.

- A shot is not a single recorded impression containing all the elements which create the visual experience, it is a combination of multiple render-passes and composited layers. Done by CGI artists.

- There is less need for a "perfect take" and excel in the craft of cinematography. VFX team does the most.

- There is no camera. The essential tool of a cinematographer. No image capturing device and it's medium. Both to be tested, understood, properly chosen, optimally utilized and creatively manipulated, as a tool with its specific feeling, operating principles, limitations and aesthetic. There is a software function which simulates a "camera" and generates computer drawn imagery. Controlled by a CGI artist.

- There is no real light to paint with.



If these facts are taken into consideration, the reaction might become understandable.
The visual achievement of this movie needs no debate. Terminology for the award and the choice of recipients might.

It would be smart to make a distinction, since it is obvious that the main issue lies in it.
As the evolution of technology allowed the storytelling to expand in its types, its award classification might as well.

"Fix it in post" has become a mantra of laziness a while back, color grading, camera ISO and DR are already being misused as poor replacements for proper lighting and crafting an image on set, so it might be a good time to think few steps ahead.