Cinematography

The Fine Line Between Informing and Entertaining an Audience

Thu, 03/17/2022 - 16:07 -- Nick Dager

Bringing a harrowing real-life story to the screen demands the lightest possible touch of Hollywood’s usual hyperreality. Hulu's Dopesick, based on Beth Macy’s book, tackles the background to America’s opioid addiction crisis, and must walk that fine line between informing and entertaining its audience. Cinematographer Checco Varese, ASC, used Zeiss Supreme Prime, Cinema Zoom and Supreme Prime Radiance lenses with the large-format Sony Venice in its 6K large format mode to bring a careful balance of style and substance to all eight episodes.

Capturing the Coldness of Death

Mon, 03/07/2022 - 10:17 -- Nick Dager

The original King of Boys feature film, written and directed by Kemi Adetiba, follows the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami, a businesswoman and philanthropist with a chequered past and a promising political future. As her political ambitions see her outgrowing the underworld connections responsible for her considerable wealth, she's drawn into a power struggle that threatens everything she holds dear. Details about the sequel are shrouded in secrecy but will provide a long-awaited continuation of the gripping story. The sequel’s cinematographer is Kagho Odhebor.

Tags: 
Cooke Panchro/i Classic lenses

SOC Names Camera Operators of the Year

Mon, 03/07/2022 - 09:59 -- Nick Dager

The Society of Camera Operators has announced that the recipients of Camera Operator of the Year in Film are Mitch Dubin, SOC, and B Camera John “Buzz” Moyer, SOC (West Side Story). The recipients of Camera Operator of the Year in Television are Manolo Rojas, SOC, and B Camera Pauline Edwards, SOC (Snowfall, Season 4, Episode 8, Betrayal). The award recipients were celebrated by industry peers and colleagues during a virtual awards ceremony on Saturday, March 5.

Managing HDR for Sweet Magnolias

Thu, 03/03/2022 - 09:50 -- Nick Dager

Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias is a dramatic romance tale set in the South about three lifelong friends navigating their personal and professional priorities and relationships alongside one another. Sweet Magnolias cinematographer Brian Johnson is a Gemini Award nominee, a two-time Golden Sheaf award winner and recipient of two Leos, whose resume includes The Killing, and You Me Her, to name a few. He was joined on the series by Tyler Blackwell, digital imaging technician, whose credits include One Night in Miami…, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Women of the Movement, among others. Johnson shot with a Sony Venice full-frame digital cinema cameras. Blackwell follows the production on a combination of Sony PVM-X2400 and BVM-HX310 4K high dynamic range monitors.

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Sony Venice full-frame digital cinema camera
Sony PVM-X2400 4K HDR
Sony BVM-HX310 4K high dynamic range monitor

Steadicam Introduces New M-2 Core Kits

Wed, 03/02/2022 - 09:53 -- Nick Dager

The most integrated and adaptable Steadicam system ever made is now available in a more affordable option with the introduction of the new M-2 Core Kits. Specially configured and priced to provide operators with an entry point into the Steadicam M-Series ecosystem, the M-2 Core Kits utilize the same lightweight components and modular design that has made the M-2 an industry standard.

Creating the Gilded Age’s Look

Wed, 02/23/2022 - 12:44 -- Nick Dager

Set in in New York City in the 1880s, a period marked by the clash between old traditions and new paradigms, Julian Fellowes’ HBO original series The Gilded Age tells the story of two families from different socioeconomic backgrounds and the relationship between them as they are trying to navigate those times of immense change. The Gilded Age chronicles the wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family who moves to New York City in 1882 and finds herself in the middle of a social war between old money and new money battling to preserve, or ascend, the social hierarchy. The first episode became available for streaming in the U.S. on HBO Max last month. Vanja Cernjul, ASC, HFS was the cinematographer for the series.

Tags: 
Cooke Anamorphic/i lenses
Cooke spherical S7/i lens
Panasonic Varicam Pure camera

Filming The Hand of God

Mon, 02/21/2022 - 12:31 -- Nick Dager

Award-winning writer and director Paolo Sorrentino’s latest film, The Hand of God, is the poetic story of a young man’s heartbreak and liberation in 1980s Naples, Italy. Although cinematographer Daria D’Antonio’s has worked for many years as part of Sorrentino’s camera crew, including Il Divo and Lan Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) this is her debut as director of photography for Sorrentino after learning firsthand from Sorrentino’s frequent cinematographer – and her maestro – Luca Bigazzi. One of her goals with this film, she said, was to make certain that the camera didn’t distract the audience from what was happening on screen.

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Red Monstro 8K VV sensor
Arri Signature prime lenses

Creating a Cinematic Sense of Impending Doom

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 09:42 -- Nick Dager

The Last Thing Mary Saw – a Shudder original movie for the AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural – takes place during the winter of 1843, in which a young woman is under investigation following the mysterious death of her Calvinist family’s matriarch. Her recollection of the events sheds new light on the ageless forces behind the tragedy. Released in the U.S. on January 20 on Shudder, the film stars Rory Culkin, Stefanie Scott, and Isabelle Fuhrman, and is written and directed by Edoardo Vitaletti, making his feature length film debut. David Kruta was the cinematographer.

Shooting Night Scenes on a Tight Budget

Tue, 02/08/2022 - 10:46 -- Nick Dager

Cinematographer Sandra Valde-Hansen (The L Word: Generation Q, Now Apocalypse, White Bird in a Blizzard, Kaboom) found herself capturing scenes in diverse weather and lighting for Natalie Morales' film Plan B. This road movie, now streaming on Hulu, follows a pair of teenaged friends during a day-and-night search for emergency contraception.

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