DP in film most commonly refers to the Director of Photography, also known as the cinematographer. This is the person responsible for the artistic and technical aspects of the visual elements of a film.
Essentially, the DP is head of the camera and lighting crews, making key decisions about:
- Camera angles and movement: Deciding where to place the camera and how it moves to best tell the story.
- Lighting: Controlling the intensity, color, and direction of light to create mood and visual style.
- Composition: Framing shots and arranging elements within the frame to create visually appealing and meaningful images.
- Film stock or digital sensor selection: Choosing the appropriate medium for capturing the images.
- Lens choice: Selecting lenses that impact the image's perspective, depth of field, and overall look.
- Color grading: Working with colorists in post-production to refine the color palette and create a consistent visual style.
The Director of Photography collaborates closely with the director to realize their vision for the film's visual style. They translate the director's ideas into concrete visual choices, ensuring that the film looks and feels the way it's intended to. The DP is a crucial creative force in filmmaking, significantly impacting the audience's experience.
In short, the Director of Photography shapes the look and feel of a film, responsible for everything the audience sees on screen.
