Professional Documents
Culture Documents
AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER • FEBRUARY 2017 • ROGUE ONE – EDWARD LACHMAN, ASC – RON GARCIA, ASC – PHILIPPE ROUSSELOT, ASC, AFC – NANCY SCHREIBER, ASC • VOL. 98 NO. 2
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7 V O L . 9 8 N O . 2
On Our Cover: Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) disguises herself as an Imperial ground-crew
member while leading a band of Rebels on a desperate mission to steal the plans for the
Galactic Empire’s dreaded Death Star in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, shot by Greig
Fraser, ASC, ACS. (Photo by Jonathan Olley, courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.)
FEATURES
30 Rebel Assault
54
Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS and a team of collaborators
detail their journey to a galaxy far, far away for
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
54 Masterful Vision
Edward Lachman, ASC receives the Society’s
Lifetime Achievement Award
72 French Evolution
Philippe Rousselot, ASC, AFC’s globe-spanning career is
saluted with the International Award
DEPARTMENTS
10 Editor’s Note
12 President’s Desk 78
14 AC Special Focus: Rising Stars of Cinematography
84 New Products & Services
90 International Marketplace
91 Classified Ads
92 Ad Index
94 Clubhouse News
96 ASC Close-Up: Cort Fey
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WEB EXCLUSIVES
Designing and building the galaxy of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
“I’ve been designing in Star Wars now for over 20 years, and a good
seven of those were spent working directly with George Lucas, which
gave me a really strong understanding of what makes a Star Wars
design. And so, when I started working with Gareth Edwards, I
knew how far we could bend the rules and what we should do to
anchor this film with Episode IV.”
— Doug Chiang
John Knoll and Doug Chiang photos by John Wilson. Additional photos by Jonathan Olley. All images courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
“We’re depicting locations and showing vehicles that are directly
referencing A New Hope, so you want them to feel like the same thing.
But our general mantra was, ‘Match your memory of it more than the
reality.’ Sometimes you go look at the actual prop in the archive
building, or you look back at the actual shot from the movie, and you
go, ‘Oh, I remember it being a little better than that.’”
— John Knoll
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F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 V o l . 9 8 , N o . 2
An International Publication of the ASC
6
American Society of Cinematographers
The ASC is not a labor union or a guild, but
an educational, cultural and professional
organization. Membership is by invitation
to those who are actively engaged as
directors of photography and have
demonstrated outstanding ability. ASC
membership has become one of the highest
honors that can be bestowed upon a
professional cinematographer — a mark
of prestige and excellence.
OFFICERS - 2016/2017
Kees van Oostrum
President
Bill Bennett
Vice President
Lowell Peterson
Vice President
Dean Cundey
Vice President
Levie Isaacks
Treasurer
David Darby
Secretary
Roberto Schaefer
Sergeant-at-Arms
MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD
John Bailey
Bill Bennett
Curtis Clark
Richard Crudo
Fred Elmes
Michael Goi
Victor J. Kemper
Stephen Lighthill
Daryn Okada
Woody Omens
Robert Primes
Cynthia Pusheck
Owen Roizman
John Simmons
Kees van Oostrum
ALTERNATES
Roberto Schaefer
Mandy Walker
Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Oliver Bokelberg
Dean Cundey
MUSEUM CURATOR
Steve Gainer
8
Editor’s Note You know another Star Wars movie has arrived when your
managing editor saunters into the office wearing a screen-
accurate Rebel Alliance parka — despite the fact that the
thermometers at the AC editorial offices in Los Angeles rarely
drop to the frigid temperatures of Hoth. Granted, it was rainy
out — and even a tad nippy — when Mr. Witmer proudly
dropped his co-workers’ jaws with the limited-edition attire,
but the jacket’s style and functionality is somewhat under-
mined by the fact that Jon would never consider hanging it
on a public coat hook, especially if the hanger were located
in some “wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
Elsewhere in the office, associate editor Andrew Fish
and photo editor Kelly Brinker could be overheard bantering
about X-wing fighters and other finer points of the Lucasfilm universe, which recently
expanded its narrative with the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. My own conversa-
tions about the movie began two winters ago in Poland at the Camerimage festival, where
cinematographer Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS expressed his excitement about the project while
sipping Zubrowka cocktails. His battle plans — which ultimately included deployment of Arri’s
brand-new Alexa 65 camera, paired with vintage Ultra Panavision 70 lenses — are expertly
achieved in the finished picture, which is chock full of action amid otherworldly settings that
benefit greatly from the gritty, naturalistic look that Fraser helped director Gareth Edwards
achieve.
The filmmakers welcomed senior European correspondent Benjamin B onto the Rogue
One sets at Pinewood Studios just outside London. Our in-depth coverage (“Rebel Assault,”
page 30) includes Benjamin’s firsthand account of the visit, as well as comments he and Witmer
gathered in interviews with Fraser; ASC associate Dan Sasaki, Panavision’s vice president of opti-
cal engineering and lens strategy; production designer Doug Chiang (who shared those duties
with Neil Lamont); and senior visual-effects supervisor John Knoll.
Fraser notes, “I love Lucasfilm because we said to them, ‘Here’s a camera no one’s ever
shot a feature film with, and some 50-year-old lenses, which are kind of funky, and we want
to shoot the movie with them.’ A lot of more conservative studios would say, ‘Nah, let’s use
what we used on the last movie.’ But Lucasfilm has the integrity and artistic vision to say, ‘Yes.’
And the guys at Arri and Panavision made it happen.”
This issue kicks off with a special-focus piece: “Rising Stars of Cinematography,” featur-
ing a group of up-and-coming talents profiled by Jim Hemphill (page 14). The article also
includes valuable advice and counsel from Hollywood agents who represent both new and
veteran cinematographers.
Several such seasoned cinematographers are saluted in our pages as they are being
honored this month at the annual ASC Awards ceremony: Edward Lachman, ASC, who will
receive the Lifetime Achievement Award (“Masterful Vision,” page 54); Ron Garcia, ASC, who
adds the Career Achievement in Television Award to his résumé (“Shot From the Heart,” page
Photo by Owen Roizman, ASC.
64); Philippe Rousselot, ASC, AFC, whose European panache is being recognized with the Inter-
national Award (“French Evolution,” page 72); and Nancy Schreiber, ASC, a trailblazer who
richly merits the Presidents Award (“Energy and Instinct,” page 78).
Stephen Pizzello
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
10
President’s Desk
Dripping With Light!
I feel compelled to write about the current fashion in cinematography, what we might refer to as “extreme real-
ism.” Extreme — and controversial — it certainly is. Where some cinematographers have left their impressions
with closely controlled lighting and precise balancing, others have made their signature with unorthodox lighting
and framing approaches, relying heavily on available light and spontaneous, handheld camera movement. But
how do you know when something is genuine as opposed to a trick or a fad?
There is historical precedent. For instance, the New Wave cameramen broke with a tradition of formalism
and encouraged a fluid reality defined by inspiring camera movement and unpretentious lighting. But in today’s
world, digital capture has provided us with the ability to register available-light situations that can be absolutely
riveting — or plainly boring and uninteresting.
I recently ran into Andrzej Bartkowiak, ASC, and when I spoke to him about the naturalism he has so
eloquently executed during his career — specifically in Prince of the City — he smiled and commented that he
used a lot of light. I was aware of rumors that he preferred to light with the “stray light” of carbon arcs and that his hard-gel
budgets could demand many thousands of dollars — but, in the end, who cares? He created a most wonderful and unique
realism in Sidney Lumet’s signature dramas.
Then there is the late Harris Savides, ASC, who infused American Gangster’s naturalism with poetry; Roger Deakins,
ASC, BSC, whose images of undeniable reality for Prisoners are hauntingly unforgettable; and, most recently, Greig Fraser, ASC,
ACS, whose visual language in Lion is so eloquently explored and emotionally strong that it made me cry.
What sometimes makes me cry for altogether different reasons is the “DSLR fad” that assumes you can follow the style
of the cinematographers mentioned above by simply setting the chip to 3,200 ASA and dialing the iris like a wheel of fortune.
Searching for some common factor that separates the exceptional from the mundane regardless of style, I turned to
art, and juxtaposed in my imagination the works of Rembrandt and Jackson Pollock.
Rembrandt can be seen as the extreme of realistic perfection. His work demonstrates great attention to lighting and the
representation of human expression. Notable are his dramatic and lively presentation of subjects, devoid of the rigid formality
that his contemporaries often displayed, and a deeply felt compassion for mankind, irrespective of wealth or age.
Pollock’s abstract expressionism, on the other hand, is characterized by his wild embrace of color and shape. He
produced his images in a revolutionary way, throwing acrylic paints on large canvases; he moved further and further away from
the usual painter’s tools — easel, palette, brushes, etc. — preferring instead to use sticks, trowels and knives to drip his paint.
His methods, in fact, at one point earned him the nickname “Jack the Dripper.”
Rembrandt and Pollock form a most unlikely pair, but I needed some theoretical common ground as a point of reference
when considering similarly disparate representations of cinematography. And I found that common ground in these artists’
expression of emotion.
Rembrandt’s case is quite clear; his enormous body of work in oil paintings, etchings and drawings all speak to the
human condition. Pollock’s world is more obscure, but his images are undeniably riveting. And when viewers are confronted
with the works of either artist, they experience the same emotional moment: tranquility.
Pollock once said, “When I am in my painting, I’m not aware of what I’m doing. It is only after a sort of ‘get acquainted’
period that I see what I have been about. I have no fears about making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the paint-
ing has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess.
Photo by Jacek Laskus, ASC, PSC.
Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.”
Maybe it’s in that statement that we can find a way to make sense of the “realism” that drives cinematography these
days. Maybe we should give ourselves over to the emotional experience of an image instead of cherishing the technological
yardsticks. Maybe we should let our light “drip.” In the end, it’s all about what you feel.
Carmen Cabana
Growing up in Colombia, Carmen Cabana dreamed of a
career in filmmaking. “I never wanted to sit behind a desk and follow
a routine schedule,” she says, explaining her decision to move to the
U.S. in 2005. She trained at the Art Institute of California – Los Ange-
les, where she planned to pursue a career as a writer until she real-
ized she had other strengths. “Midway into my education I objec-
tively realized that I had no talent for writing, but my fellow students
kept asking me to shoot their shorts because they thought I had a Cinematographer Carmen Cabana on set.
good eye.”
Cabana photo by Gustavo Brum.
The emphasis at the Art Institute was in postproduction and raphers and consuming as many American Cinematographer articles
screenwriting, which Cabana ultimately saw as a benefit. “Having as she could — in fact, she credits AC circulation director Saul Molina
knowledge in other aspects of filmmaking has given me an advan- as her number-one mentor. “He introduced me to the magazine and
tage by allowing me to understand other people’s jobs,” she to the first books that shaped me as a cinematographer,” she recalls.
explains. “When I work I am conscious of the needs of others and I Cabana received what she considers to be her big break on
see the big picture.” her second feature, Cartas a Elena (Letters to Elena), which came
Cabana filled in the gaps in her education by reading books about under surprising circumstances. “My friend who was doing a
like Masters of Light: Conversations with Contemporary Cinematog- very low-budget comedy needed extras in swimsuits, so I put an ad
teamed with production designer Arad kind of thing.” was all shot on the Red One.”
Sawat and supervising art director Ian Bailie While still in school, Impens began Impens adds that he “likes film a lot,
to achieve that plan, and is quick to praise working as a clapper loader for director of but in a small country like Belgium, our
his collaborators on all of his projects. That photography Walther Vanden Ende, who budgets are low and the film stock can
said, he singles out one partner as most became a mentor along with another become a big part of the budget — 15
deserving of the credit for his work: “My Belgian cameraman, Jan Vancaillie, SBC. He percent of your money goes to processing
wife supports me all the way. That is the worked as a focus puller for several years and stock.” Currently Impens hopes to
main reason I can do what I love.” while shooting footage on the side, and ulti- work on Van Groeningen’s next project, a
mately found a valuable partner in director film he’s developing to shoot in America.
Ruben Impens, SBC Felix Van Groeningen. Their film The Broken “At this point I think I’ve done something
Ruben Impens, SBC, also from Circle Breakdown was nominated for a Best like 15 features, so I’m becoming a little
Belgium, visited a film set as a teenager and Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2014, more selective in terms of the scripts,” he
immediately knew that he wanted to partic- though Impens is more partial to their prior says. “I really want to focus on the most
ipate in making movies. “At that point I collaboration, The Misfortunates. “That was challenging stories possible.”
didn’t know I wanted to be a director of the first time I thought to myself, ‘Maybe
The Lure director Agnieszka Smoczynska on art form dependent on capturing energy:
her new film, about a woman with memory “My overall philosophy is that light is a spirit.
loss who is reunited with her family — “a When this concept is embraced, magic can
psychological drama that we want to film happen.” Although she loves digital tech-
like a horror story,” according to Kijowski. nology, she worries that it sometimes works
Kijowski finds inspiration in the against the creative process. “We can be
content of his films, looking for the precise too focused on all the bells and whistles,
visual corollary to the emotions and story. “I with clinical and polished films as a result,”
believe that finding an aesthetically appro- she says, adding that the digital world has
priate visual form for a story contributes to also “produced a generation of producers
Cinematographer Becky Parsons.
its success,” he explains. “Then once you and directors who think we now have such
start telling the story, you move to a higher powerful sensors that our jobs are practically
tricks but about telling a story,” Kijowski level. You become an author.” obsolete — ‘if you can see it, shoot it.’ They
says. Dylewska brought Kijowski fully into don’t understand that exposure is the least
the fold when she took him on as a camera Oona Menges of it.”
operator for Agnieszka Holland’s In Dark- Oona Menges grew up with cine- Menges says that her best experi-
ness. “We worked in Germany and in matography in her blood — her father is ence with digital was on a series called
Poland with an international crew and Academy- and ASC Award-winning director Different for Girls. “We sent the ‘mags’
cast,” he recalls of the massive production. of photography Chris Menges, ASC, BSC. straight to [colorist] Matt Watson at Shed
“It was a great experience working with a “My parents’ friends were all filmmakers London with no downloading or DIT on set.
big crew on an original, creative film.” and Magnum photographers, so I have He then uploaded the rushes for the execs
After In Darkness, Kijowski quickly always been around cameras and discus- in New York and for us on-set in London. So
rose to prominence as a cinematographer in sions of images,” she says. we were treating it exactly as though it was
Poland, receiving a Camerimage nomina- Menges has an impressive list of film, but with all the positive contributions
tion in 2013 for the minimalistic psycholog- mentors that includes Ivan Strasburg, BSC; of digital.”
ical drama Floating Skyscrapers. “We were Robert Alazraki, AFC; Ashley Rowe, BSC; Menges’ devotion to an intimate
searching for visual expression that would Angus Hudson, BSC; Barry Ackroyd, BSC; relationship with her images leads her to
underline the loneliness of the two main Robby Müller, NSC, BVK; John Mathieson, continue to operate whenever possible. “I
characters,” he says. BSC; Alan Almond, BSC; and Chris Seager, have worked with operators and enjoyed
His next feature, The Lure, was a BSC. Not surprisingly, Menges got an early it,” she says, “but I feel disconnected when
“fairytale for adults” that won the World start, working as a runner on set while still I don’t have my eye to the camera.”
Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for a teenager before graduating to clapper
Unique Vision and Design at the 2016 loader when Sandi Sissel, ASC gave her the Becky Parsons
Sundance Film Festival. “The story takes position on the film No Secrets. Becky Parsons also became inter-
place in Warsaw in the Eighties and involves “I was beaten into shape by two ested in movies thanks to her father, though
two young mermaids who appear innocent excellent camera assistants, Jacqui Comp- in her case her dad had no ties to the film
Parsons photo by Richard Groot.
but are in fact bloodthirsty beasts,” Kijowski ton and Sue Zwilling,” she recalls, adding business. “He was a layout designer and
explains. “I aimed at presenting this duality that her days as a loader and focus puller typographer — nothing to do with the film
of innocence and brutality, beauty and taught her the importance of prep. “You or television industry,” she explains, “but he
repugnance, obviousness and mystery by have to surround yourself with the best and always had the latest consumer video
merging opposing aesthetics. I wanted to most positive crew you can, and remain cameras and TVs, and was — and is — an
link the colorful, fairytale world of a dance flexible and ready to grab opportunities. avid follower of film.”
club with the vicious naturalism of sordid There is no room for ego.” Living in London, Parsons would
interiors.” Kijowski plans to reunite with For Menges, cinematography is an often stumble across productions shooting
Quyen Tran
Quyen Tran came to the cinema via
Quyen Tran at work on Mogadishu, Minnesota. still photography and photojournalism,
disciplines that continue to inform her work
in the streets. “I remember seeing a witz, ASC. “She went on to shoot The as a director of photography. “Hailing from
Steadicam in action for the first time as a Wire,” Parsons recalls. “Her handheld work a photojournalistic background, I’m always
young kid at Billingsgate Market. That was was impeccable.” Parsons was also looking to tell the story in the most
the first time I thought about the different mentored by photographer John Glover, economical way possible,” she explains.
jobs in moviemaking.” Parsons studied whose influence on her work, she says, has “With stills, you have one frame to tell a
photography, performance art and audiovi- been profound. story. Sure, it can be beautifully composed
sual mixed media at the Wimbledon School Both the celluloid and digital work of and lit, but what is the essence of that
of Art (now Wimbledon College of Art) in Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC continue to frame? Why does it exist? What’s behind
England before moving to Halifax, Canada, inspire Parsons and shape her own philoso- those eyes?”
to complete her studies at the Nova Scotia phy when it comes to cinematography. “I It was while shooting stills on an
College of Art and Design. agree with his aversive attitude toward NYU thesis film that Tran caught the movie
Although her degree was in photog- creating stunning images simply for the bug and decided to apply to film school
raphy, she was shooting short films before sake of creating stunning images,” she herself. She attended UCLA, where she
she graduated, and after college she took explains. “The job is more about creating met cinematographer-in-residence Roger
whatever jobs she could get to gain experi- images that are in service of a larger Deakins, ASC, BSC, who became a valued
ence. “I carried sandbags, put lights purpose.” Parsons skillfully applied that mentor, along with Johnny Simmons, ASC.
together, and at leaner times joined other theory to her work on Weirdos, a coming- In fact, she still implements a piece of advice
departments like set dressing,” she says. of-age story set in the 1970s that garnered from Simmons regularly. “He said, ‘Anyone
She ultimately found work as a camera widespread acclaim at last year’s Toronto can get the job done, but how do you want
assistant on such projects as the TV movie International Film Festival — and is set for to do the job?’ — which really stuck with
Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, wide theatrical release in Canada on March me,” she says.
which was photographed by Uta Briese- 17. Parsons’ black-and-white photography Tran also received some valuable
extracurricular education by spending time
Tran photo by Wilson Webb, SMPSP.
image a little in digital,” he says, adding that by reading a book called What I Really his class. But in the end, you learn so much.
he spends a great deal of time in the final Want to Do on Set in Hollywood. “I read I think it’s rare in our industry, or as artists, to
color correction fine-tuning the image. “The the description for ‘cinematographer’ and be critiqued critically in a nonjudgmental
possibilities for finessing it there are fantas- that was it,” he says. way, where the stakes aren’t that high.”
tic,” he asserts, “though in the end it’s all As an undergrad, Wu bought a After AFI, Wu developed relation-
about taste and vision — how your taste as Canon EOS 5D Mark II, eventually amass- ships with cinematographers Rachel Morri-
a cinematographer allows you to find a ing enough good material to get into the son and Edu Grau through the mentorship
visual interpretation that helps tell the American Film Institute, which is where he program at Film Independent’s Project
story.” feels he truly became a cinematographer. Involve. “They’ve helped me wade through
“It really opened my eyes to ask how the political aspects and nervous break-
Ed Wu camera placement affects how we relate to downs of bigger challenges on bigger
Cinematographer Ed Wu didn’t start a character in a scene, or whose perspec- projects,” he says. Through Project Involve,
out with aspirations to work in the camera tive the shots are from and why,” he Wu also met the producer of Sleight, which
department — in fact, he didn’t have aspi- recalls. was Wu’s first feature. It premiered at
rations to work in movies at all. He began as AFI gave Wu something important Sundance to critical acclaim and a positive
a classically trained musician, and through- in terms of mentorship as well. “At AFI we audience response, but Wu notes that he
out his pre-college years, he recalls, “I had many professors who were mentors to still feels like a newcomer. “In all honesty,”
always thought that was what I was going me,” he says. “Stephen Lighthill, ASC; Bob he says with a laugh, “I’m still breaking in.”
to do. I think it has a big influence on how I Primes, ASC; Sandra Valde-Hansen; Tal ●
approach cinematography. Listening to and Lazar — but the most influential for me
playing classical music, you have an attach- was Bill Dill, ASC. He taught me so much Thanks to Mark Dillon for interviewing the
ment to the instrument and how you about how to ask questions about what’s agents. For additional agent comments, visit
express the notes on the page. You feel it. driving the camera.” Wu recalls that Dill’s www.theasc.com in February.
With cinematography, I have to tune out tough-love style could be a bit much for
what’s around me and think about how the some students. “He doesn’t hold anything
camera movement feels and how it’s back when he breaks down your films,”
emotionally impacting me.” Wu recalls. “I’ve heard of students crying in
Wu photo by Prarthana Joshi.
•|•
S
ince Star Wars: Episode IV – A New
Hope premiered in 1977, audiences
have known — thanks to the film’s
famed opening crawl — that “Rebel
spaceships, striking from a hidden base,
have won their first victory against the
evil Galactic Empire. During the battle,
Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans
to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the
Death Star, an armored space station
with enough power to destroy an entire
planet.” Now, with Rogue One — the first
standalone “Star Wars Story” set outside
the episodic films of the Skywalker saga
— Lucasfilm tells the full tale surround-
ing those Rebel spies: Jyn Erso (Felicity
Jones), Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), K-
2SO (Alan Tudyk), Chirrut Îmwe from Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, of his visit, as well as Q&As with Fraser;
(Donnie Yen), Baze Malbus ( Jiang Wen) Doug Chiang — who would share ASC associate Dan Sasaki, Panavision’s
and Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). production-design duties with Neil vice president of optical engineering and
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Lamont — and a team of artists began lens strategy; Chiang; and Knoll.
Kennedy green-lit the project based on a exploring design concepts. Gareth
pitch by Industrial Light & Magic’s chief Edwards was soon brought on to direct, Visiting the Set
creative officer and senior visual-effects and Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS to shoot. Security is tight when I arrive at
supervisor, John Knoll, who also served During production, Fraser invited Pinewood Studios — not unlike that of
as Rogue One’s visual-effects supervisor AC senior European correspondent the Galactic Empire’s Citadel facility on
alongside Mohen Leo. As Knoll and Benjamin B to visit the Rogue One set at the planet Scarif. Instead of stolen
Gary Whitta refined the story, which Pinewood Studios near London. What Imperial codes, I hand over my ID and
would receive additional script service follows is Benjamin’s firsthand account sign the non-disclosure agreement. And
Right: In Rogue
One’s opening
sequence, Galen
Erso (Mads
Mikkelsen) is
discovered by the
Empire after
living in hiding
with his family on
the planet
Lah’mu. Below:
Death Troopers
lay waste to the
Erso farm. The
Lah’mu exteriors
were shot on
location in
Iceland.
American Cinematographer:
What’s it like working on a Star Wars
movie?
Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS: It’s
incredible! I was able to work with the
best technicians and the best equipment Above: The crew
in the world. With Gareth Edwards, we re-creates a shot
wanted to be attentive that the look be from Star Wars:
Episode IV – A
consistent with A New Hope, which is New Hope of a
seared in our brains. We weren’t neces- Rebel sentry
sarily trying to reproduce what it actu- tracking a ship’s
departure from
ally looked like, but how we remember the Yavin base.
it — there’s a difference between reality Left: The Rebel
and the remembrance of reality. Part of hangar at Yavin 4
was built at
our research was to look at the 4K Cardington
scanned versions of A New Hope and Studios. Below:
The Empire Strikes Back. They look The crew
captures a
fantastic, but they don’t look how I gathering of the
remember them. Rebel council.
I understand that the Rogue One
LUT was based on the Kodak 500T
5230 negative that you used on Killing
Them Softly and Foxcatcher.
Fraser: That’s right. The blacks
are milky and creamy; it’s a low-contrast
stock, so when you add a little bit of
contrast in the DI, it doesn’t feel digital
— it still feels very filmic. It’s my go-to
look.
It’s a funny story, because after
Foxcatcher I gave some short ends to
an Australian film student at NYU.
Then, when I was prepping Rogue One,
John Knoll told me that ILM could
make a LUT based on sampling any
film stock. That 5230 Kodak stock
didn’t exist anymore, so I called the
student and said, ‘Do you have any of
that film stock left?’ He checked and
said he had a 100-foot short end in his
fridge — and that’s what ILM used to
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Left: Imperial
defector Bodhi Rook
(Riz Ahmed,
gesturing) pleads his
case to Benthic Two
Tubes (Aidan Cook,
right) and other
members of Rebel
extremist Saw
Gerrera’s militia.
Below: Fraser
(operating the
camera) and crew
capture the scene on
stage, in front of a
backing.
A massive array
of WinVision Air
9mm LED panels,
provided by VER,
are positioned
around a
spaceship
interior on a
gimbal rig (left),
enabling an
interactive
hyperspace
lighting effect.
handy and useful tool on set. This is just Lucasfilm, my amazing crew, and our 1960s; they have a 1.25:1 anamorphic
my opinion, and I’m happy to discuss it gutsy and progressive suppliers. We’d squeeze, which yields an aspect ratio of
with anyone over a beer! never done it before, but we said, ‘If 2.76:1 when shooting 65mm film for
What’s it been like working with there’s a problem, we’ll work out how to 70mm release.
Gareth Edwards? solve it.’ And we did. It wasn’t all plain Gregor met Greig by chance at
Fraser: Gareth is an incredibly sailing technically, but we got through Panavision, and told him that he should
strong, visceral storyteller. He does the it. I love making movies that challenge try out ‘these glorious lenses.’ Greig
classic thing of painting a picture that me and push the medium. And Rogue immediately saw the merits, but being
says a thousand words. One certainly did that. vintage lenses, he was concerned they
Gareth loves improvisation, and would be difficult to focus and wouldn’t
the LED system worked out very well Panavision vice president of be fast enough. He also wanted lenses
for that, because I could stand outside a optical engineering and lens strategy with a much closer focus and a greater
360-degree set with my desktop opera- Dan Sasaki choice of focal lengths. So the lenses
tor and change levels and coloring on Sasaki worked closely with Fraser went through a lot of changes to meet
the fly. I could easily change the color of and oversaw the engineering of the Greig’s needs — being an artist, he
a wall mid-take or on the second take. Ultra Panavision 70 lenses used on really wanted to define his look and
In fact, the first take with Gareth is Rogue One. AC spoke with Sasaki at the push the limits.
often a shooting rehearsal, and there’s recent Camerimage International Film We made brand-new 65mm,
nothing like a shooting rehearsal to get Festival. 135mm and 290mm lenses. The other
everybody’s blood pumping. Everybody lenses have the same casting but with
steps up and performs. American Cinematographer: Is it new primes. The lens rings were also
You were at the forefront of two correct that Greig was introduced to standardized to normal matte-box size.
technologies on Rogue One: You used the Ultra Panavision lenses by Gregor It must have been difficult to
an Alexa 65 with Ultra Panavision 70 Tavenner, who was Robert make the lenses faster.
lenses, and employed LEDs almost Richardson, ASC’s first assistant on Sasaki: It was. It was a tricky
exclusively. Was that scary? The Hateful Eight [AC Dec. ’15]? process to keep the lens compact; right
Fraser: I had a mixture of fear Dan Sasaki: Yes, the Rogue One off the bat we knew we were going to do
and excitement, and it was only possible lenses were originally reinvented for The a lot of redesigning to achieve the T2
because of the support from Gareth Hateful Eight. The Ultra Panatars were aperture. We had to create our own
Edwards, the encouragement of developed in the late 1950s and early custom spherical components to fit into
American Cinematographer:
Can you tell us about using giant LED
screens for backgrounds instead of
bluescreens?
John Knoll: All of our major
spaceship cockpit scenes were done that
way, with the gimbal in this giant horse-
shoe of LED panels we got from VER,
and we prepared graphics that went on
affect your work? looked and felt very real. the screens. One thing that’s very hard
Chiang: The LED screens were It all goes back to reinforcing the to shoot on visual-effects films is a vehi-
really wonderful tools in terms of how illusion that this is a real place and not a cle traveling through a complex lighting
we could light these sets so that they felt movie set. I think it’s an important qual- environment. For example, if you’re
believable. For instance, when we were ity to achieve. It’s a nuanced thing, and flying through a city, this building in
in the Death Star command center, we even though the quality of visual effects direct sunlight would be bouncing light,
wanted to see things on the viewscreen today can get to that photo-real point, if another one might be painted a lighter
where traditionally it would have been a you can achieve it all in-camera, the color, and another one might be darker
giant bluescreen; we wanted the interac- more authentic it feels. and cooler — so the lighting environ-
tive reflective quality of what you would ment around the vehicle should really
actually see. Even though we ultimately Visual-effects supervisor John be changing almost every frame. And
had to replace some of those images Knoll that’s really hard to do well on a sound-
with higher-fidelity images in postpro- Knoll began working at ILM in stage with conventional instruments, so
duction, they were enough to give a 1986, and his contributions to the Star it feels a little artificial. If you can gener-
sense that the quality of light on the Wars saga go back to the first iteration of ate the environment around the vehicle
actors and the reflections on the set the Star Tours attraction for the Disney and have that playing back on the LED
52
ily deal with. It happens on every show, Knoll: Yeah, we took a 4-by-8 me. Let’s just make the most beautiful-
but disentangling foreground and back- sheet of black foamcore, we punched looking image.’
ground was particularly extreme on this little 1⁄8-inch holes through it in a grid, One of the things I love about
show. and then backlit that. So basically it’s a ILM is that everyone here likes chal-
And then the lenses have this field of little white dots. We framed up lenges. That’s why we’re here. You know,
really odd defocus characteristic. With each one of the lenses so the grid filled we want to do the hard thing that really
most lenses we’ve dealt with in the past, the frame, and then we racked them pushes us. That’s where the really amaz-
the shape of the bokeh is fairly contin- through the entire focus range. By ing discoveries happen, and we really
uous across frame. But with these doing that, you have a pretty clear refer- feel proud to have achieved something
lenses, the shapes were very different ence of what an out-of-focus circle of when you face those sorts of unknowns.
across the frame. In the center of frame confusion looks like at each different ●
they’d be ellipses that were that 1.25:1 place in frame. And then we sent the
aspect ratio. But then as you went away footage back to ILM as a reference for For additional Rogue One coverage, visit
from the center of frame off to the the guys who were writing the focus www.theasc.com in February.
sides, they would start to squeeze hori- tool.
zontally; on a couple of lenses they Were you ever tempted to say:
would almost become lines towards the ‘How about using the regular Alexa or
edge. And then as you went up verti- other lenses?’ TECHNICAL SPECS
cally in the frame, they would start to Knoll: No, no! I love this. The
tilt so they were angled perpendicular Alexa 65 is an amazing camera. I like it 2.39:1
to a line from the center of lens. We a lot. And the weird defocus character-
had to write a new defocus tool to istic of the Ultra Panavision lenses really Digital Capture
emulate that look. contributed a lot to the beauty of the Arri Alexa 65
Was that new tool based on cinematography on this film. So no, I’m
mapping each individual lens? all for saying: ‘Don’t make it easier for Ultra Panavision 70
53
Rogue One:
From Concept
to Screen
It required courage untold and heroic sacrifice, and more than a little trust in the Force,
for the Rebel Alliance to successfully steal the secret plans to the Galactic Empire’s
dreaded Death Star. Bringing that tale to the screen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
called for similarly herculean efforts from a cast and crew working around the globe.
Here, in this digital-edition exclusive, AC offers a pictorial summary of the production,
including early concept art, behind-the-scenes action on stage and on location, and
final frames that incorporate visual effects.
“Rogue One Ensemble,” a concept painting by Jon McCoy, depicts characters (from left) Baze Malbus (who would be played by Jiang Wen),
Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen), K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).
1.
Unit photography by Jonathan Olley, Giles Keyte and John Wilson. All images courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.
3.
1. Preparing to shoot on the Eadu landing-platform set at Pinewood Studios.
2. The Rebels — including Imperial defector Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed, bottom left)
— assemble at their hidden base on the fourth moon of Yavin. 3. Ahmed and Jones
at work for a scene in the cockpit of a stolen Imperial cargo shuttle.
4. Cinematographer Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS hand-holds the camera for a gathering
of the Alliance High Command. 5. Rebel leaders debate their options.
4.
5.
www.theasc.com February 2017 Digital Exclusive
1. Concept artist Andrée Wallin’s painting “Star Destroyer Over Jedha Version 2A.” 2. Imperial cargo shuttles and TIE
fighters in the air over Jedha City. 3. Director Gareth Edwards frames a shot of Jones. 4. Capturing the action around an
Imperial combat assault tank as stormtroopers square off against attacking Rebel forces.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Digital Exclusive February 2017 American Cinematographer
1. 2.
3.
4. 5.
www.theasc.com February 2017 Digital Exclusive
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2. 3.
4. 5.
Vision
reflects on a globetrotting
career behind the camera.
By Jon Silberg
•|•
Carol.
E
dward Lachman, ASC, recipient of From Heaven (AC Dec. ’02), I’m Not
this year’s ASC Lifetime There (AC Nov. ’07) and Carol (AC Dec.
Achievement Award, admits he’s ’15), all with director Todd Haynes; The
always felt like something of a Limey (AC Nov. ’99) and Erin
visual gypsy in the motion-picture Brockovich, with Steven Soderbergh;
industry. Though he grew up in Light Sleeper and Touch, with Paul
Morristown, N.J., the cinematogra- Schrader; and The Virgin Suicides, with
pher’s influences, early credits and acco- Sophia Coppola. He stresses, though,
lades read more like the CV of a that his work is the result of his collabo-
European émigré. To name just a few of rations with his crew that he’s worked
his international honors, he’s the only with over many years, particularly gaffer
American to have received Germany’s John DeBlau, key grip Jim McMillan,
Marburg Camera Prize; last year, he and operators Craig Haagensen and
received a BAFTA nomination and a Mitch Dubin.
BSC Award; he’s received Both Lachman’s father and
Camerimage’s Bronze, Silver and Gold grandfather worked in the film-exhibi-
Frogs, as well as a Cinematographer- tion industry, the former converting
Director Duo Award from the festival; vaudeville houses to movie theaters, the
and he’s taken home a Golden Osella latter running cinemas in New Jersey
cinematography award from the Venice and distributing carbon-arc projector
Film Festival. Furthermore, he’s worked lamps for a French company and, later, father was also an amateur photogra-
with many known European directors, having the foresight to introduce xenon pher, but as a child I shied away from
including Werner Herzog, Wim bulbs and projectors as their replace- and actually abhorred cameras. I always
Wenders, Volker Schlöndorff, George ment. However, Lachman insists that had the feeling, like Eastern thought,
Sluizer, Ulrich Seidl and even French this early introduction to the medium that your photographic image could
New Wave auteur Jean-Luc Godard. had no bearing on his own career path. steal your soul — now I know it does!”
He has also exhibited photography, “When I was young,” he recalls, “I used Instead, his artistic impulses
videos, and art installations in galleries to go to movies with my father and sing steered him in the direction of art
and museums throughout the world. to the musicals on the screen and fill the history and painting. While taking
Lachman’s extensive and eclectic bags with popcorn at the concession courses at Harvard and Columbia, he
list of credits includes such visually stand. So I was around film my whole began to see film as an art form, and he
arresting independent features as Far life, but I didn’t take it very seriously. My ultimately completed his education at
this expressionistic, nightmarish world Lachman then connected with with motivated sources to reinforce Julia
for Madonna’s New York City, inspired British director Marek Kanievska to Roberts’ Oscar-winning performance
by [German Expressionist painters] help bring to the screen Bret Easton as a struggling, humiliated working-
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Ellis’ novel Less Than Zero, which class mother who overcomes obstacles
Nolde. I used gels to create a lot of chronicles the excesses of sex, drugs and to help victims of corporate negligence
yellow and green light at night moti- nihilism among privileged youth in L.A. and, in doing so, finds her sense of
vated by the light in the streets. People The cinematographer used lighting purpose.
on the crew said, ‘Eddie, you’re going to “that would inverse day and night. These “Ed was an influence on me
get fired!’ I said, ‘No, it’s fluorescent and people primarily lived at night, through before we even met,” says Soderbergh.
tungsten light from the street’s light drugs, and slept during the day. So we “He’s the best kind of obsessive: curious,
sources. I’m just pushing it a little bit found ways to give an edge and a enthusiastic, unpretentious and, best of
Erin Brockovich photo by Bob Marshak. Carol photo by Wilson Webb, SMPSP.
further than usual.’ I didn’t get fired, but contrast to the lighting of the night all, thrilled to share his ideas and expe-
people looked at me like I was weird.” scenes to indicate it was their day. Then, riences. His passion is infectious; when
The cinematographer’s approach during the day, the challenge was to you’re in close proximity to an artist
impressed musician David Byrne, the make everything feel nocturnal.” with his level of dedication, technical
lead singer of Talking Heads, who asked The cinematographer was skill, courage and imagination, it’s
Lachman to undertake an offbeat, becoming more noticed when he impossible not to be inspired and
experimental film titled True Stories. teamed with Soderbergh. The Limey — excited by the work at hand.
Byrne, always looking to expand his starring Terence Stamp as a British ex- “Ed used the Polaroid extensively
artistic visions, was directing the film, con out to avenge his daughter’s death when we were working together, and
which was based on a script he’d written — pays homage to the fractured, shift- he’d be so caught up in looking at the
with playwright Beth Henley. The look ing story perspective and dislocation of result he’d just let the discarded backing
at middle America has a unique visual characters of 1960s neo-noir thrillers fall wherever he was standing or walk-
style that supports the songs’ mixture of such as Get Carter and Point Blank; ing,” the director continues. “We
satire and warmth toward the subjects. Lachman used a handheld camera and referred to these as ‘Lachman drop-
“We referenced William Eggleston and expressionistic color palettes for the pings,’ and the image of all of us trailing
amateur photographers’ photos that film’s locations, which established a him to pick them up still makes me
would come out of a Fotomat with a strong tone for the actions of the charac- laugh. I’m thankful for his great work,
snapshot sensibility, off-balance framing ters. For Erin Brockovich, the cinematog- and even more thankful for his friend-
and not necessarily cinematic lighting,” rapher drew from his documentary ship and guidance.”
Lachman says of his inspiration. experience, creating naturalistic lighting Lachman’s longest creative
62
enthuses, “You feel like you’re part of a
family here that cares about the struggle
we all have to go through to create our
images.” Still, upon hearing the news of
the award from ASC President Kees
van Oostrum, Lachman demurs, “I was
astonished that I would receive this. I
always felt like a bit of an outsider to all
the great talents here.”
But for those who know
Lachman, have worked with him or
simply admire his staggering body of
work, the honor couldn’t find a more
deserving recipient. As Blanchett says,
“With Ed, the feel on set is always
experimental, always searching, full of
ideas, alternatives and fresh perspec-
tives. We had next to no time on the
films I’ve worked on with Ed, which
makes what he achieved even more
remarkable — playful, masterful and Lachman captures last light at sunset.
breathtakingly surprising.” ●
Shot
From the
Heart Ron Garcia, ASC,
recipient of the Society’s
Career Achievement in
Television Award, reflects
on his career behind
the camera.
By Rachael K. Bosley
•|•
F
or Ron Garcia, ASC, it all started through rigorous self-education, hard
with a favor for a friend. It was 1966, work, and a handful of serendipitous
and Garcia was 26 years old and encounters that typify the adage “only in
happily employed as a design drafts- Hollywood,” Garcia forged a filmmak-
man at McDonnell Douglas, working on ing career that encompassed producing
the DC-9 aircraft. He recalls, “My friend and/or shooting B movies, including the
was fiberglassing racing boats, and one of drive-in hit Machismo: 40 Graves for 40
his clients wanted a promo to show at a Guns; learning the finer points of cine-
trade show, so my friend said to me, matography at Zoetrope Studios during
‘Let’s go shoot a boat race.’ We had no production of Francis Ford Coppola’s
idea what we were doing, but I knew experimental musical One From the
someone who’d worked on The Endless Heart; shooting television projects for
Summer with Bruce Brown, so I called Michael Mann (Crime Story), David
him for advice. We rented a 16mm Lynch (Twin Peaks), and Ridley and
camera from Birns & Sawyer and went Tony Scott (Numb3rs), among others;
out to Lake Havasu. Little by little, we and playing an active role in ASC
figured it all out, and by the end of it, I Technology Committee initiatives for
was bitten. I fell completely in love with 10 years. When Garcia receives the
the whole process and decided to learn ASC Career Achievement in Television
everything I could about it.” Award this month, it will cap a list of
At 27, Garcia stepped away from honors that includes two Primetime
the aerospace industry, though not with- Emmy nominations, a CableACE matographer, whose credits also include
out some difficulty. “I’d worked on a few Award and four ASC nominations. the features Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With
projects that needed a secret atomic When he reflects on these laurels, Me (AC Sept. ’92) and The Great White
clearance, so I had to be debriefed, and however, Garcia emphasizes that it was Hype.
those guys refused to believe I was quit- practicality rather than passion that led Garcia’s entrée into the union
ting so I could handle props on a Civil him to television and, as his reputation world was the TV series Hunter (1985),
War movie shooting in Bronson Canyon in the field grew, kept him there. “I which he joined in its second season. “A
in Hollywood,” he recalls, laughing. “I didn’t want to be ‘typecast’ in television, friend, Stu Segall, from my independent
said, ‘What’s wrong with that?! Let me but I found I was well suited to its pace days had become a TV producer on
outta here!’” and demands as a result of my early low- Hunter, and he knew I could do a lot
Over the next five decades, budget experiences,” says the cine- with a little, so he called me up. On my
•|•
I
n the May 1989 issue of American because it’s a gift. The ASC Award is a would be horrified by the state of the
Photo on p. 72 by David James. Photos on p. 73 by ASC associate Douglas Kirkland (left) and Zade Rosenthal, SMPSP (right).
Cinematographer, contributor Nora very serious award because it comes world today.”
Lee wrote the following about from your colleagues, people who really In the mid-1950s Rousselot
Philippe Rousselot, ASC, AFC’s understand cinematography. I’m very attended a winter ski camp where
camerawork on the Stephen Frears film grateful and honored.” Weimar-era German expressionist,
Dangerous Liaisons: “Rousselot doesn’t Rousselot has seen much through postwar Italian neorealist, and American
believe that a cameraman should draw the lens of his camera, during a storied classic films were screened for a small
attention to himself or to his work. The career that spans continents (The audience of movie buffs, of which
better a cameraman is, the fainter his Emerald Forest, The Bear), time Rousselot was the youngest. Also shown
signature becomes.” The cinematogra- (Interview With the Vampire, The Nice were several films by the French poet-
pher himself added, “When you start Guys), other worlds (Charlie and the director Jean Cocteau, including Beauty
your career you want to show off what Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Beasts and and the Beast (photographed by Henri
you can do. You want people to be able to Where to Find Them) and the afterlife Alekan, another International Award
see the result of your work. As you grow (Constantine). Thinking back to his first honoree) and Testament of Orpheus
older you want to come on the set, do feature film as a cinematographer — (photographed by Roland Pontoizeau).
your job, and have people hardly notice 1970’s Le Clair de Terre, for French The 11-year-old Rousselot was
that you’ve even been there.” director Guy Gilles — Rousselot notes, enchanted. “These films made me aware
Thirty-three films later, Rousselot’s “When you first embark on a journey, that a medium existed between the story
contributions to cinema have once again you know nothing. It can be both a and the audience,” he recalls, “that the
propelled him into the spotlight, as the curse and a blessing, depending how you light and camera angles were chosen and
All images courtesy of Philippe Rousselot, ASC, AFC.
American Society of Cinematographers manage to survive.” decided upon through a work process
honors him with the 2017 International Rousselot’s journey began long — hence the presence of people respon-
Award. First bestowed in 1992 to British before he even conceived of picking up sible for these kinds of decisions.” In
cinematographer Freddie Young, BSC, a camera. He grew up in Lorraine, part essence, he realized that “there was
the award recognizes an esteemed camer- of the northeastern region of France someone behind the camera.”
aperson whose creative taste and body of that borders Germany, Belgium and It was a galvanizing experience
work bridge both language and geograph- Luxembourg. The cinematographer for Rousselot, and soon after, he
ical divides. recalls the postwar industrial landscape resolved to become a filmmaker. “I read
“Awards are both the best thing of his childhood as drab, war-torn and anything I could find that related to
and the worst thing depending on how hastily rebuilt, without a history of its cinema, from Sergei Eisenstein’s Film
you take them,” says Rousselot. “My feel- own. His French father was a lawyer and Form and Film Sense to Cahiers du
ing is that there are two dangers: One is his Russian mother a writer-translator. Cinéma,” he reminisces. “I lured my
to take it seriously, because it boosts your Rousselot describes his parents as parents into driving for miles to distant
ego. The other is to not take it seriously, “open-minded, secular intellectuals who towns to see every possible film.” ➣
Instinct
steadfastly supports the
next generation
of filmmakers.
By Patricia Thomson
•|•
“I
like being physically active, which is why I’m so
glad I didn’t become a psychologist. I would not
have been able to sit still,” says Nancy Schreiber,
ASC, over tea in her New York loft. This year’s
winner of the ASC’s Presidents Award is indeed
crackling with energy. Yesterday she flew in from Los
Angeles, where she keeps another flat; today she
spontaneously joined the anti-Trump demonstrators
marching past her building; and tomorrow she flies to
Poland for Camerimage, where she’ll participate in
the Forum on Diversity in Cinematography
— which will include a screening of the trailer for
Women of Light, a documentary about women cine-
matographers in which she is featured.
That energy is reflected in her filmography,
with more than 100 credits as director of photogra-
phy, plus another 40 as operator, gaffer and electri-
cian. But between the lines are her essential traits:
grit, which enabled her to bushwhack her way into a
predominately male field, and a desire to help others,
especially women treading the same path. As a film
electrician, Schreiber was the first female gaffer in
New York’s NABET Local 15, and she was the
fourth woman in the ASC and served on its board for
seven years. She has mentored countless students and
sponsored aspiring ASC and ICG members. “I’ve
made it my mission to support these qualified women
and get them in,” she says. It’s a personal mandate
that has earned her Women in Film’s Kodak Vision
Award, ICG’s Kodak Cinematography Mentor of
the Year honor, and the gratitude of many women
and men.
And Schreiber wasn’t kidding about that
psychology career. In high school, she recalls, “I was
working with underprivileged kids in the inner city of
Detroit and thought I’d be a social worker.” She
majored in psychology at the University of Michigan,
but her minor was art history — a natural fit, with her
mother being a docent at the Detroit Institute of
needed a lot of light. The camera was recalls Meg Ryan in Cheryl Hines’ ship. “I remember showing work and
physically hot, and it had a cord several Serious Moonlight: “She was sitting on a being interviewed and being incredibly
inches thick running out to the trailer, couch with a mirror looking at the light- nervous. I was worried about getting in
where the Japanese engineers would be.” ing! These leading ladies know how to with my ‘little indie movies.’”
Co-directors Stuart Samuels and Todd light themselves. I’d always try to make it It was in fact a little indie
McCarthy were thrilled to conduct in- right before they came to set, so they movie, shot on MiniDV no less, that
depth interviews, thanks to the camera’s would never complain.” won Schreiber a Sundance Film Festival
ability to run uninterrupted for an hour, In the 1990s Schreiber began Cinematography Award — Greg
but Schreiber just remembers the baking getting dramatic-feature work. Among Harrison’s November (AC May ’04),
heat. “The interviews were extensive and her personal favorites from that decade: produced by InDigEnt, an early cham-
I was fascinated listening to my idols, but Chain of Desire, a La Ronde-type indie pion of digital cinema. “InDigEnt had
I had a hard time not keeling over from that netted her an Independent Spirit a great model of small digital movies
the heat,” she relates. But on this and her Awards nomination; the jazz movie Lush with great actors,” Schreiber notes.
next NHK HD project, Route 66 — Life, which starred Jeff Goldblum and “Crewmembers received the same rate,
which employed the same camera — she Forest Whitaker and was loaded with $100 per day, but we saw back-end —
applied lessons learned from earlier musical numbers by Lennie Niehaus; and I still get small deferral checks to this
Betacam work. Using low light, long Neil LaBute’s sophomore outing Your day.” This was actually Schreiber’s second
lenses and wide apertures, “I tried to trick Friends & Neighbors; and Ann Hu’s Sundance award, the first of which she
the camera to be more filmic, and to not period drama Shadow Magic, which took shared for the documentary My
look like video,” she explains. “This did Schreiber back to China. America... or Honk If You Love Buddha.
not make the engineers too happy, and The 1990s also brought her back November, starring Courteney
they kept saying, ‘More light!’” to Detroit for her first shoot there: an Cox, was Schreiber’s first experience with
The work accelerated. “I knew MTV video of Aretha Franklin. Her Panasonic’s AG-DVX100, the
how to light and shoot people, so I kept mother came to watch her work for the company’s then-new 24p camcorder.
getting hired for that — in particular, [to first time, and remarked, “‘There sure are “The camera was so inexpensive that we
Possum Living photo by Lisa Rinzler.
shoot] women.” She adds, “Kevin Bacon a lot of men.’ She had absolutely no idea could take it scouting and test on the
found and hired me to light his wife, what I did,” Schreiber recalls with a spot,” the cinematographer says. Seeing
Kyra [Sedgwick], when he directed laugh. “All she knew was there was a lot the movie projected on the giant Eccles
Loverboy.” On the Emmy-nominated of travel, it was very unstable, and she screen at Sundance, however, made her
The Celluloid Closet, she crossed paths sure wished I’d get a ‘real’ job.” cringe, though she opines that it ulti-
again with Shirley MacLaine. First thing Two years later, in 1995, Society mately didn’t matter. “I got the award,”
the actress said was, “Nancy, I know members John Alonzo, Adam Holender she says, “but I’ll never forget how horri-
you’ll keep that camera high and the key and Steven Poster successfully recom- ble early digital projection was. It is
light low, right?” Similarly, Schreiber mended Schreiber for ASC member- funny to think that I chose to bake in the
82
GSC, after Fabian Wagner, BSC shot forced out of their homes; and Jeff she says. “When I started shooting in
the pilot. Bans praises Schreiber’s strong Grace’s music-infused Folk Hero & New York, I always had women assis-
vision and “her truly collaborative nature Funny Guy. This spring, Schreiber heads tants. This seemed to raise a lot of
and desire to create the best shot — and to England to shoot another directorial eyebrows, but I never even gave it a
show — possible,” the producer says. debut: John Meyer’s Being Dead, based second thought.”
“The fact that she’s a blast to be around on the bestseller about the murder of Schreiber has mentored, then
after 12 hours of shooting is just a bonus. husband-and-wife scientists. hired, men and women from AFI as well
The cast loved her, the crew loved her, The fact that there is starting to be as Film Independent’s Project Involve.
and incoming directors felt instantly at an increase in female directors is encour- One mentee, Marie Chao, worked her
ease.” aging to Schreiber, who has also shot for way up the union ladder — starting as a
Schreiber hopes to keep shooting Katherine Dieckmann, Cheryl Dunye, loader until she was operating on
television. “Even though it’s tight for Barbara Kopple and Anne Heche. November. As Schreiber observes,
time,” she notes, “you have larger crews Encouraging, too, is the improvement in “There are some wonderfully talented
and more money for gear than on small the ASC’s numbers: Compared to four women coming up in grip and electric,
indie movies. Having said that, I like the women being admitted in the 1990s and and I think our women ACs are top-
intimacy of indie movies and I still do three in the 2000s, seven have gained notch. Having said that, I really like
like to shoot them.” entry since 2010. “The times are chang- creating a lovely balance on my sets with
Indeed, Schreiber was recently in ing, which is so gratifying,” she notes. women and men.”
Trinidad shooting Moving Parts, a film “But we want to be recognized not as As for her latest achievement, she
about sex trafficking by first-time direc- women cinematographers, but as cine- says, “This business can be really diffi-
tor Emilie Upczak. Other features shot matographers who happen to be cult, but there’s nothing more rewarding
by Schreiber and opening this year women.” than being recognized by your peers —
include Amy Glazer’s Kepler’s Dream, a For her part, Schreiber has always so even getting into the ASC, and then
young-adult film; Rosemary Rodriguez’s been proactive about giving women a leg receiving the Presidents Award, is simply
Silver Skies, about a group of retirees up. “I know how challenging it can be,” mind-boggling.” ●
New Products & Services
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Please e-mail New Products/Services releases to
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Sony Enhances FS7 Camera pounds. The 6x zoom, with an 18-110 focal range, uses a new,
Sony has expanded its FS Series Super 35mm professional fully mechanical/servo zoom switchable system that is capable of
family with the addition of the FS7 snap zooms and entirely devoid of lag. The lens is compatible
II camcorder. The new model with Sony’s Alpha Mount System cameras, including the a7
builds on the original FS7’s series interchangeable-lens cameras and professional Super
strengths by adding 35mm 4K camcorders such as Sony’s FS7 or FS5.
advanced features The lens benefits from Sony’s Smooth Motion Optics
including Electronic design, which is developed to optimize performance during
Variable ND technology, motion-image capture. This lens design eliminates undesirable
a lever-lock-type E- characteristics and artifacts that do not affect still-image capture
mount, and a new but can severely limit a lens’ usefulness for motion shooting,
mechanical design for faster and such as ramping, loss of focus while zooming, breathing, and
easier setup. The new FS7 II camcorder also supports Sony’s optical axis shift.
Alpha Mount System, which includes more than 70 lenses. The FS7 II supports the XQD memory-card format,
The FS7 II is designed for long-form shooting and produc- designed for capturing and transferring high-bandwidth, high-
tion applications, especially documentaries and independent resolution files. Sony has also introduced the QD-G256E XQD
features. Sony has also introduced an FS7 II kit model, which card — with a 256GB capacity — which enables a recording
includes a new E-mount Super 35mm lens (model SELP18110G) time of approximately 45 minutes at 4K 60p and 3.5 hours at
that covers Super 35mm and APSC sensors. 2K 30p. Combined with a read speed of up to 440MB/s and a
The camcorder’s Electronic Variable ND Filter system, write speed of up to 400MB/s, users can shoot for longer with-
combined with its large sensor, delivers greater exposure control, out needing to change media cards.
with the option of preset or variable operation modes. Variable For additional information, visit www.sony.com/fs7ii.
ND mode allows the user to vary the density of the ND filter
during shooting and to transition seamlessly between steps. The Arri Introduces Master Grips
camera’s expanded ND operations also enable fine exposure Expanding its range of Electronic Control System acces-
adjustment by relegating the iris to set the depth of field, sories, Arri has announced four new Master Grip handgrips,
prevent soft focus caused by diffraction, and prevent color shift which offer fingertip control of Arri and third-party cameras and
caused by stacking multiple external ND filters. Preset mode, lenses when shooting handheld.
useful in selecting the most appropriate filtration range for Increasingly, the previ-
changing light conditions, lets users assign three ND settings to ously separate worlds of cine
the filter turret. Auto ND mode is also available, allowing expo- and documentary equipment
sure to stay at a fixed level while adjusting the depth of field with are merging; additionally, small
iris control. cameras like the Alexa Mini
The FS7 II’s new E-mount gives users the ability to change feature a reduced user inter-
lenses by rotating the locking collar rather than the lens itself. face, requiring external
This means that in most cases lens-support rigs don’t need to be camera controls. Responding
removed, saving time during a production. to these trends, Arri’s Master
The FS7 II also features several design updates for Grips combine effective
comfortable and functional use in the field. The camera’s “tool- camera stabilization with
less” mechanical design lets users make on-the-fly changes to comprehensive lens and
the camera’s setup and operation; for example, no tools are camera control. Lightweight and built to Arri’s quality standards,
required to adjust the Smart Grip or viewfinder positions. The the Master Grips are available in four versions: right-side and
viewfinder eyepiece provides a third stabilizing contact point left-side grips, with either a rocker for super-smooth zooming or
when shooting handheld; durable square section rods and lever- a thumb wheel for iris or focus adjustments.
clamps on the LCD and camera body provide simple and precise Based on the classic Arriflex handgrips, the Master Grips
front-to-back VF adjustment while retaining level positioning. follow a proven ergonomic design. With controls that are easy
The new E-mount Super 35mm lens available with the to reach but still protected from accidental triggering, they allow
FS7 II kit model is compact and lightweight, weighing only 2.4 for prolonged handheld operating without discomfort or strain.
85
three motors, handgrip extensions, Atlanta caters to Georgia’s production and transcoding to OTT fulfillment and
LCUBE converters and cables. A new set community; among other assets, the playout.
of cables, in dedicated lengths and with facility’s showroom displays VER’s propri- The highly configurable orchestra-
angled connectors, provides optimized etary, content-driven LED and green- tion layer within Cubix works with the
cabling solutions for the Master Grips. screen lighting system, which has been asset-management and automation
For additional information, visit used in features such as Gravity and Furi- layers, allowing many different work-
www.arri.com. ous 7. Farther south, VER operates a New flows to be quickly configured and recon-
Orleans camera prep and service facility figured as required. It provides support
VER Preps Cameras Across U.S. in the Elmwood/Jefferson Parish region, for fully automated operation as well as
To support productions shot and VER Camera Miami offers a compre- more complex creative ones. Cubix can
throughout the U.S., VER has invested in hensive technical service department be securely accessed via multiple Web
state-of-the-art camera-prep facilities and with lens calibration, projection and portals for many different use cases, all
increased services across the country. camera maintenance for productions in providing the highest levels of trans-
VER’s Cineverse service remains at the southern Florida. Additionally, a new VER parency and efficiency.
core of each facility, providing expert Chicago recently opened near Midway For additional information about
camera-prep staff, lens technicians, Airport. Kodak’s services, visit
camera engineers and 24/7 technical For additional information, visit www.motion.kodak.com.
support. www.ver.com.
VER’s inventory includes top Space Instruments Launches
professional cameras and lenses, and is Kodak Manages Assets Gear Head in U.S.
backed by an experienced prep and engi- With Ortana Berlin-based engineering com-
neering team that understands real- Kodak has chosen Ortana’s Cubix pany Space Instruments has introduced
world production environments. “Our asset-management and orchestration the latest version of its Gear Head to the
goal is to provide the best equipment platform as the basis of a new service: U.S. market, following years of develop-
combined with deep technical expertise Kodak Media Asset Management Solu- ment and a successful product launch in
in one place, so filmmakers can expand tions. Europe.
their creative vision,” says Vince Pace, Kodak Media Asset Management The compact Gear Head version
ASC, VER’s executive director of camera. Solutions offers a package of service solu- 2.1 measures 15" wide, 8.9" high and
“By offering strategically located hubs tions with end-to-end tailoring, including 14.1" deep, making it easy to transport.
with consistent service and the very best scanning, distribution and long-term digi- It offers a tilt range from +40 to -40
personnel, we find that crews appreciate tal archiving. The new solution allows degrees, and the pan axis can freely
their experiences so much they think of content owners to take advantage of the rotate 360 degrees; the well-balanced
us wherever they’re working.” trusted, dependable format of Kodak hand wheels enable stepless adjustments
VER’s headquarters in Glendale, film in combination with the agility and in all directions, and both axes provide
Calif., houses a new camera-prep facility. flexibility of truly orchestrated workflows brakes to hold the Gear Head in place.
The airy, garage-style design — created for management, augmentation, distrib- The Gear Head is also capable of variable
by JSDA Inc. — provides an expansive ution and archive. speeds in both axes, providing greater
space for camera crews to do thorough The Ortana Cubix platform control for operators; the slow speed has
checkouts of their equipment. Ready for encompasses all the required workflows a gear ratio of 60 turns of the hand
productions of any size, the facility boasts for media management, processing and wheel to 360 degrees, while the fast
20 camera-checkout bays; high-tech lens delivery. It offers a unified configurable speed is 30 turns for 360 degrees.
projection and sensor calibration rooms; platform for easy deployment on site, in Engineers at Space Instruments
video and audio prep; and hospitality and the cloud or both. Every element is have designed the Gear Head with long-
meeting areas, all with easy drive-up designed to be secure, multi-tenanted, lasting, smooth-operating, all-metal
loading. Along with VER Camera, the and file- and format-agnostic. construction, with anodized aluminum
spacious campus offers a state-of-the-art Integral to Cubix is an asset- surfaces and moving parts of brass and
R&D lab, a machine shop to create management layer supporting a wide stainless steel. Weighing only 25 pounds,
custom gear, plus an array of other range of needs, including the ability to the Gear Head can support payloads up
production gear, including lighting, configure content hierarchies and editor- to 55 pounds. It is adaptable to common
audio, rigging and media servers. ial schemas. Cubix also provides full mounts including the Mitchell base and
Opened earlier this year, VER support for workflows based on discrete 100mm and 150mm tripods.
Camera New York’s 18,000-square-foot media such as tape and film. Incorporat- Space Instruments also offers a
West Side space provides easily accessible ing selected market-leading third-party number of accessories, including a Tilt
prep space and an experienced team in software, it can seamlessly drive devices Plate, which can linearly and steplessly be
the heart of Manhattan. VER Camera for applications ranging from bulk ingest adjusted from 0-90 degrees with knurled
92
Clubhouse News
Chapman photo courtesy of Camerimage. Prieto photo by Kerry Brown, courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Kline photo by Lee Christian, courtesy of the American Cinematheque.
Society, AC Attend Camerimage matographer-in-Residence at the University
The 24th Camerimage International of California, Los Angeles’ School of
Film Festival recently wrapped in Bydgoszcz, Theater, Film and Television. Prieto’s resi-
Poland. Michael Chapman, ASC received dency, which includes a number of work-
the Lifetime Achievement Award. Greig shops and screenings, began in December
Fraser, ASC, ACS won the festival’s Golden and continues for the remainder of the
Frog for his work on the feature Lion, while 2016-’17 academic year.
Bradford Young, ASC took home the “As cinematographers, we manipu-
Silver Frog for Arrival (AC Dec. ’16) and late light and utilize composition, texture,
Anthony Dod Mantle, ASC, BSC, DFF color and movement in an attempt to
received the Bronze Frog for Snowden. In capture the essence of something very
the First Look - Pilots TV Competition, elusive: emotional truth,” Prieto says. “Our
When you were a child, what film made the TV show Fastlane. I credit the show’s regular
strongest impression on you? cinematographer, the immensely talented
I am firmly of the Star Wars generation. I was 7 Nathan Hope, for putting me in that slot.
years old when we spent half the day standing in
a line around the block. Everybody was excited — What has been your most satisfying
it was an event! The communal excitement and moment on a project?
joy of that experience has always stayed with me. The most satisfying moment is when I look back
at the day’s work and feel like we did something
Which cinematographers, past or present, do new. I am always striving for more of those kinds
you most admire? of moments.
As a teen, I watched vintage Seventies movies like
Klute, The Parallax View, All the President’s Men Have you made any memorable blunders?
and The Godfather, all photographed by Gordon Willis [ASC], and Each episode of Cold Case on CBS required a new flashback look
I loved the look. I still find his style strikingly modern and so inter- based on the time-period of the story. One onerous combination
esting. The cinematographers today that make ‘perfect’ seem so was a prison escape through a real cave with flashlights shot on
easy — [ASC members] Robert Elswit, Roger Deakins and 16mm black-and-white reversal film. I just barely missed the
Emmanuel Lubezki. stock’s 3 stops of latitude. All you saw on the screen were white
dots floating on a black screen!
What sparked your interest in photography?
I grew up in Seattle, where my father was an editor and camera- What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?
man. I’d tag along on his jobs and watch the camera crew in action. ‘Change your shoes at lunch’ — director Fred Toye.
Occasionally, I’d score a tiny on-screen role — my first gig was a milk
commercial when I was 6. In seventh grade, I started taking photos What recent books, films or artworks have inspired you?
and loved the combination of technique and creativity. I am inspired by great buildings, and recently I visited the Oslo
Opera House. It’s this angular glass and marble shell with a curvy
Where did you train and/or study? wood core, all sitting right on the water. It’s open and airy, yet
I majored in history at the University of Pennsylvania, where I was solid and very permanent feeling. The amount of work and
photo editor for The Daily Pennsylvanian. After that, I worked commitment to create such a unique and beautiful building is
alongside my father in Seattle as a production assistant, loader and humbling.
second camera assistant. A year later, I attended the graduate film
program at USC. Do you have any favorite genres, or genres you would like
to try?
Who were your early teachers or mentors? I love action movies. I’ve shot quite a bit of action, but I think it
The Daily Pennsylvanian had a professional and award-winning would be great fun to do a big actioner. James Bond!
photo department, and most of the learning involved senior
photographers teaching the younger ones how to shoot. At USC, I If you weren’t a cinematographer, what might you be
was a student of Robert Estrin, ACE, and later his teaching assistant. doing instead?
Bob was a fantastic editor who taught me a lot about the musicality Perhaps architecture. It’s a career that blends technical thinking
of storytelling and how important rhythm is to individual shots as with a creative eye, much like cinematography.
well as whole sequences.
Which ASC cinematographers recommended you for
What are some of your key artistic influences? membership?
I love how street photography can create so much drama from the Michael Watkins, Michael O’Shea and John Bartley. They’re
mundane world that swirls around us all day. They create composi- talented and kind artists — and I’ll be forever grateful!
tions that focus attention or build drama — all in a moment. My
favorites: Saul Leiter, Vivian Maier and Robert Frank. How has ASC membership impacted your life and career?
It’s impossible to not be inspired and invigorated when
How did you get your first break in the business? surrounded by these people. It’s an incredible opportunity we
I was given the huge opportunity to step up from action-unit cine- have to learn, share and support each other as artists and crafts-
matographer to first-unit for two episodes of the Fox/Warner Bros. people in this difficult and isolating business. ●