Cinematography

• What lighting was used in all of Buster Keaton shorts?

  Flat lighting, it has a little shadow and creates an even and bright look
• Why was flat lighting used in Silent comedy films?

  Enabled the audience to look around the frame and watch Keaton interact with his environment
• Where did Buster Keaton shoot many of his two reelers?

  Outdoors, in daylight hours so Keaton could use natural light

  The entirety of cops was shot outdoors, making use of outdoor studio lots and local LA vicinity, rooting the surreal gags in real locations
• What focus does Keaton use and why?

  Employs deep focus to provide a sense of perspective and contributes to the humour as we can see the gag developing in the background.
• Examples of Keaton's use of deep focus

  In One week, the audience can clearly see the train in the background hurtling towards the makeshift house.

  In Cops, Keaton takes a nap on the house carriage while the city can be seen unfurling in the background
• What was Keaton's skill of cinemtagrophy?


  Adept at using cinematic space to build up a gag.

  The locomotive at the start of 'The high sign' appears enormous in the frame, making Keaton look small and overpowered, then it speeds off into the background
• Where is Keaton's character often placed?

  Centre of the frame
• What does placing Keaton in the centre of the frame allow?

  clear symmetry and allows the audience to focus on how Keaton interacts with the world around him
• What camera angle does he use?

  Straight-on at eye-level, with no expressionist angles used so as not to to distract from what is happening in the scene
• What is a common convention at KeyStone?

  Shoot chase sequences in long shot
• Where can we Keystone chase sequence conventions?

  In Cops, how the camera stays static in long shot as the action takes place clearly within the frame
• When is camera movement used?

  Only to emphasise a gag, as seen in One Week, where the movement of the camera mimics the high winds and adds to the absurdity of the gag as Keaton and his wife try not to get swept away by the winds