LEARNING FROM THE BEST As part of the BSC’s ongoing mission to foster education and training opportunities for cinematographers of all levels, its second Masterclass, led by a selection of award-winning DPs, marked a study weekend with a star-studded difference. The second BSC Education Masterclass took place across the weekend of 21-22 January at the … Read more
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN To help Wedding Season’s viewers navigate the show’s non-linear timelines, choosing the right glass for the challenge was pivotal for cinematographer Adam Etherington BSC. Wedding Season is a high-octane comedy with a rip-roaring narrative that accelerates straight out of the blocks. It was a show I felt we could do something … Read more
Shooting fast and hitting hard Cinematographer Simon Rowling reveals how he shot action and dialogue scenes in a limited timeframe for rip-roaring thriller One Ranger. I have always been keen to work with Jesse Johnson for many years, having seen his work in the thriller/action genre. In February 2022 he got in touch with me … Read more
RIGHT ROYAL DRAMA A timely shift in focus from the Royal Family takes Netflix’s The Crown from English to Egyptian soil to follow the Al-Fayed family in season five’s “Mou Mou”. The series’ seasoned cinematographer, Adriano Goldman ASC BSC ABC, reveals how he used colour to shape the contrasting storylines in his lensing. It’s not … Read more
ON COURSE FOR CAMERA CAREERS In October 2022, the BSC and London Screen Academy ran the inaugural Cinematography and Camera Department Workshop for “early career creatives” as part of BSC Education. The Cinematography and Camera Department Workshop was conceived two years ago by BSC president Christopher Ross and aimed at those from marginalised groups or … Read more
CAUGHT IN THE ACT Cinematographer Witold Stok BSC explores the fascinating relationship between those in front of and behind the camera, drawing on his own experiences on set. “I think acting – and particularly feature film performance, because of its subtlety – is really an instinctive thing. I think you can either do the gig or … Read more
THE SHOW MUST GO ON Shooting in the precious setting of London’s Freemasons’ Hall added an extra layer of complexity for See How They Run’s cinematographer Jamie D. Ramsay SASC and gaffer Carolina Schmidtholstein. The duo discusses the intricacies of lighting the historic venue while juggling capturing an ensemble cast. It’s 1950s’ London and we … Read more
ORCS BY FIRELIGHT An enormous lighting setup was required when Alex Disenhof ASC lensed the orc nighttime invasion of a village in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. I remember the moment when I was in high school, sitting in a theatre watching The Return of the King and I said, ‘I have to figure … Read more
PLAYING WITH FIRE Time was of the essence for Will Baldy when lighting a fast-evolving tavern set on The Sandman. He explains the tricks and techniques used to capture the changing light over the centuries. On the surface, The Sandman is adapted from the eponymous DC Comics series written by Neil Gaiman. As you’ll learn … Read more
GRANULARITY OF TIME Ula Pontikos BSC’s work on “Nowhen” – the opening episode of season two of Russian Doll, the series merging death, rebirth, past trauma, and time travel – saw her receive an Emmy nomination. The cinematographer talks us through one of her favourite sequences from the second series which follows protagonist Nadia’s DMT … Read more
The shortage of skilled crew amidst a production boom has been well-documented, but a post-pandemic flurry of apprenticeships and training schemes hopes to boost the talent pipeline. Is it enough? It’s something of a miracle that UK film crew enjoys the international reputation it does, with recruitment largely lacking even a semi-formal system of qualification … Read more
Bridging the gap Part of the Mayor’s Academies Programme, the West London Film and Television Skills Hub aims to nurture blossoming creative talent to meet rising demand, as its ambassador, the filmmaker and director Chris Skarratt explains. Every time I meet with the next generation of British filmmakers, TV producers, VFX artists or cinematographers, a … Read more
MOVING WITH THE MARKET A selection of UK rental houses share perspectives on the ever-evolving sector, from the peak in activity following the production void through to popular gear, training, and encouraging new entrants to the industry. Much as the events of 2021 have hinted that there might be such a thing as too much … Read more
PERFECTING THE WORKFLOW We explore the evolution of the digital imaging technician’s role in helping achieve maximum image quality, the workflow wizardry surrounding it, and their collaboration with cinematographers and other members of the production team. In the early days of digital cinema, digital imaging technicians emerged for what seemed like three main reasons. One … Read more
EXPLORING NEW DIMENSIONS Erik Alexander Wilson BSC details how he captured elements of four-part series Landscapers, adopting a new “Portrait Anamorphic” mode approach which saw him shoot with 2x anamorphic lenses for a 16:9 delivery. Whilst trying out ideas to find a look for the series Landscapers, I was wondering what would happen if I … Read more
PICTURE THIS Being visual disciplines, cinematography and production design share a common language. Experts in their field share their experiences and techniques as well as the secrets to successful creative collaborations. Long before working on The Luminaries, Denson Baker ACS NZCS and production designer Felicity Abbott went to film school together in Sydney. Abbott points out that no matter the project there … Read more
AT THE HEART OF THE ACTION Polly Morgan BSC ASC breaks down an action-packed scene from A Quiet Place Part II and the bespoke car rig, teamwork, and kit that made capturing the first-of-its-kind, tightly choreographed sequence possible. When John [Krasinski] and I discussed the prologue – when the creatures attack – we decided the … Read more
A PAINTER’S EYE Why should cinematographers looking to produce unique creations seek influence from centuries-old art? Witold Stok BSC explores the powerful influence paintings can have on filmmakers. In cinema’s multi-rooted parentage, painters, poets, novelists and theatre animators line up with engineers, craftsmen, builders of medieval cathedrals or the creators of mass-produced Bauhaus works. 17th century Italian opera welded together music, movement, … Read more
REALISING THE VISION Tania Hoser speaks to three fellow members of illuminatrix – a collective of female cinematographers – about their planning and process when creating visual concepts for a film and turning them into a cinematic reality. For me, one of the most beneficial aspects of being part of illuminatrix is the opportunity to … Read more
SPACE TO CREATE Despite the obstacles presented by the pandemic a number of new UK studio locations have been announced recently. We round-up some of the latest developments and the role they will play in filmmaking’s future. The shockwaves of 2020 are still being felt throughout the film industry, even though a number of productions … Read more