Cameras

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.

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.