Cinematography

Making a Classic New York Comedy

Mon, 09/30/2024 - 11:38 -- Nick Dager

Directed by Pamela Adlon, Babes is a heartfelt, contemporary comedy set in New York City. At its core, the movie is about the deep love and strong friendship between Eden (played by co-writer and producer Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau). The feature blends humor with deep emotional resonance as the two friends navigate family life and motherhood. With its timeless visual style, the film captures the charm of classic cinema while grounding its narrative in the present day. The project's distinct look was crafted through the close collaboration of cinematographer Jeffrey Kim and Light Iron colorist Keith Jenson.

Creating the Color Grade of The Forge

Mon, 09/02/2024 - 12:07 -- Nick Dager

The Forge is an American drama film directed by Alex Kendrick and co-written by Stephen Kendrick. It is a spin-off to War Room (2015) and tells the inspiring story of a young man's journey for purpose through faith and discipleship. The film was shot in Albany, Georgia, by cinematographer Bob Scott and the color was completed by colorist Keith Roush in Atlanta, at Roush Media.

Creating the Palette of Palm Royale

Mon, 05/27/2024 - 10:27 -- Nick Dager

Created by showrunner Abe Sylvia, the Apple TV+ comedic drama Palm Royale navigates the tale of one woman's ambitious journey to make it among the upper crust, through extravagant settings that evoke the golden era of Life magazine. Cinematographer David Lanzenberg was behind the camera for the first two episodes, working with director Tate Taylor, and then passed the baton to fellow director of photography Todd McMullen, who shot the remaining eight episodes. With support from Panavision Woodland Hills, the cinematographers opted to pair Panaspeed large-format spherical primes with the Millennium DXL2 camera. Here, the collaborators highlight how the series’ visual language was distinctly enhanced by the choices made by the art, wardrobe, and hair & make-up departments.

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Crafting a Visual Language for Grief

Mon, 05/06/2024 - 09:29 -- Nick Dager

Now streaming on Netflix, Good Grief marks the feature-film directorial debut of Daniel Levy, well known as the co-creator and costar of the series Schitt’s Creek. Offering an uplifting perspective on dealing with the permanence of losing a loved one, Good Grief follows Marc (played by Levy), who was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc’s world shatters, sending him and his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. Cinematographer Ole Bratt Birkeland, BSC and gaffer Chris Dowling made each of their decisions with the aim of embracing these realities. Panavision London supplied the production’s camera and lens package, and Panalux London provided lighting services. The filmmakers also worked with Light Iron for dailies and finishing services, including visual effects and final color. Light Iron’s VFX contributions included 3D tracking, reflection maps, motion vector mapping, rotoscoping, paint, and multi-layered compositing; in the final grade, Birkeland reteamed with supervising colorist Ian Vertovec. Supported throughout production and post, the filmmakers were free to skillfully explore the bright spots of bereavement. Here, Birkeland and Dowling discuss their approach to crafting the film’s visual language.

A Spirit Between Worlds

Mon, 04/22/2024 - 10:50 -- Nick Dager

Directed by Héléna Klotz, La Vénus d'argent (aka Spirit of Ecstasy) tells the story of Jeanne Francoeur (played by Claire Pommet), a young woman striving to escape the circumstances of her birth by morphing into a silent predator in the world of investment banking. Working with Panavision Paris, cinematographer Victor Seguin, AFC employed PVintage and Primo 70 lenses and a Panavised Sony Venice camera to help visualize Jeanne’s contrasting environments. Here, Seguin shares his experiences collaborating with Klotz and finding a unique look for each of Jeanne's worlds.

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Creating a Vintage Allure

Mon, 03/25/2024 - 09:37 -- Nick Dager

The music video for Ariana Grande’s yes, and? brings a modern approach to vintage allure. The video was directed by Christian Breslauer, who worked for the first time with cinematographer Gaul Porat. Together, the filmmakers found inspiration in well-chosen references and showcased the dynamic choreography with intentional framing and subtle, deliberate camera moves. Working with Panavision New York, Breslauer and Porat chose to work primarily with H Series spherical primes for the production, which came together quickly late last year. Here the two filmmakers share insights on their inspirations and collaboration.

DP Trevor Forrest on Making MLK/X

Mon, 02/26/2024 - 12:19 -- Nick Dager

With its fourth season, the National Geographic series Genius presents a dual portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, inspirational leaders who paved parallel paths as pioneers in the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and ’60s. Genius: MLK/X traces their journeys from their formative years through their rise to prominence, as they each shaped a legacy that remains vitally important. Trevor Forrest, the lead director of photography for MLK/X, worked closely with Panavision to select an equipment package based around Panavised Arri Alexa 35 cameras and Primo spherical lenses, with modified Anamorphic Flare Attachments used for key moments.

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