Lenses

Shooting The Last Showgirl

Mon, 02/03/2025 - 10:35 -- Nick Dager

In director Gia Coppola’s feature film, The Last Showgirl, Pamela Anderson stars as Shelly, a veteran Las Vegas dancer suddenly facing an unknown future when her long-running show comes to an abrupt end. The production reunited Coppola with her longtime collaborator Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC following their previous collaborations on projects that include the features Palo Alto and Mainstream. For their intimate portrait of Anderson’s character in The Last Showgirl, Coppola and Durald Arkapaw embraced the super 16mm film format, working with Panavision Woodland Hills for their lens and camera package. The cinematographer recently shared her reflections on the production for the following Q&A.

Creating Nickel Boys’ Special Look

Mon, 01/27/2025 - 10:34 -- Nick Dager

Directed by RaMell Ross and adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys offers a poignant exploration of friendship, resilience and injustice. The feature dives into the lives of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse) and Turner (Brandon Wilson), two African American boys navigating the harrowing realities of a segregated reform school, Nickel Academy, in the Jim Crow South. Through its evocative storytelling and immersive visual approach, the movie captures the intensity of their experiences with both intimacy and immediacy. Central to achieving the feature’s distinct aesthetic was cinematographer Jomo Fray, whose collaboration with Ross brought a unique perspective to the project.

Making The Fire Inside

Mon, 01/20/2025 - 09:38 -- Nick Dager

Watching The Fire Inside, the directorial debut of Mudbound’s Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison, ASC, you may feel like you’re leafing through a family photo album of a hometown hero who went on to shake the world. For their film, Morrison and director of photography Rina Yang, BSC have crafted a look that is both down-to-earth yet also larger-than-life. Each scene strives to capture the intimacy of a snapshot while simultaneously amplifying the mythology of a young woman who overcomes all obstacles to make history at the Olympics. The movie is based on the documentary T-Rex, which tells the real-life story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed in The Fire Inside by Ryan Destiny), a young Black boxer from Flint, Michigan, who fought her way to winning consecutive gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Numerous boxing matches give the film its kinetic energy, but at its heart, the movie is about family. Despite shooting primarily in Toronto, Morrison desired that Shields’ hometown of Flint be genuinely portrayed on the screen and personally led the second unit — dubbed the “Flint Unit” in the credits — to capture the city that in 2014 was plagued by a water crisis when lead and bacteria contaminated its water supply. Claressa’s rise to Olympic glory during this fractious time demonstrates the human potential to ascend difficult conditions and inspire everyone around her. Here is a conversation with the makers of The Fire Inside.

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Fighting the Elements for Rescue: HI-Surf

Mon, 12/16/2024 - 09:48 -- Nick Dager

From the minds of the award-winning executive producer and director John Wells and executive producer and writer Matt Kester, Rescue: HI-Surf is a heart-pounding drama that follows the personal and professional lives of Oahu’s North Shore lifeguards. The heroic first responders often find themselves in life-threatening situations patrolling the famous Seven Mile Miracle, a stretch of sandy beaches with the most pristine surf conditions that’s not for the faint of heart. Inspired by surf films and documentaries, cinematographer Anka Malatynska captured the raw intensity of these fearless lifeguards as they navigate treacherous conditions. With support from Panavision Woodland Hills, Malatynska used Panavision VA large-format spherical lenses to enhance Oahu’s aesthetic appeal, favoring single-camera setups and relying heavily on natural light. I recently spoke with Malatynska about her experience. Here is that conversation.

Creating the Cinematic Experience that is Wicked

Mon, 12/09/2024 - 09:19 -- Nick Dager

The highly anticipated feature-film adaptation of the Broadway sensation Wicked has arrived. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the musical fantasy is set in the magical kingdom of Oz and follows the unlikely friendship between the misunderstood Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and the popular Glinda (Ariana Grande). However, their friendship takes a turn after a fateful encounter with the powerful Wizard of Oz, setting them on opposing paths. Cinematographer Alice Brooks, ASC reteamed with Chu — her longtime collaborator going back to their student days at the University of Southern California — to help craft a unique look befitting the story and its themes.

Shooting We Live in Time

Mon, 11/25/2024 - 09:18 -- Nick Dager

Directed by John Crowley, We Live in Time explores love, loss, and the fragility of life, painting an intimate portrait of the relationship between principal characters Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield). With the support of Panavision London and Panalux London, cinematographer Stuart Bentley, BSC crafted a visual approach that enhances the story’s raw emotion while remaining unobtrusive.

Making Killer Heat

Mon, 11/18/2024 - 10:58 -- Nick Dager

The feature Killer Heat unfolds in the wake of a treacherous love triangle involving twin brothers on an exclusive Greek island. The secretive investigation that follows falls to a visiting detective known as the Jealousy Man, portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Director Philippe Lacôte teamed with BAFTA Award-winning cinematographer Andrew Dunn, BSC, and together they crafted a cinematic language that bridges the story’s multiple cultures.

Creating the Look of A Family Affair

Mon, 11/11/2024 - 08:49 -- Nick Dager

“This story highlights main characters from three different generations,” says director Richard Lagravenese of his new feature A Family Affair. Now streaming on Netflix, the movie follows Zara Ford (played by Joey King), who works thanklessly as the assistant to self-absorbed movie star Chris Cole (Zac Efron) — who, in turn, ends up falling for Zara’s widowed mother, Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman), with comic consequences for all.

Saving White Bird

Mon, 10/14/2024 - 10:49 -- Nick Dager

Up to the moment the cameras rolled, cinematographer Matthias Königswieser, AAC wasn’t sure White Bird: A Wonder Story would actually happen. Production of the feature film began in Prague in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, when most of Europe was on lockdown. Transporting crew, talent, and equipment required herculean effort and contingency planning, and if key personnel or talent tested positive for covid, the entire schedule could be upended, or the production could be shut down. Lay on top of those difficulties a cold, mucky winter, and you have a recipe for what could have been a disaster.

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.

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