RIDING THE WAVE Find out how Channel 4’s Big Mood depicts the flip from “up to down” experienced by its bipolar main character through the lens of cinematographer Daniel Stafford-Clark. Big Mood is my favourite kind of comedy; one with dark edges that doesn’t pull its punches. It follows the friendship of two women living … Read more
A little over a year ago, I got a message from my agent. It read simply: “Are you ready to be really excited?” What she was about to offer was the opportunity to work on an entire season for Paramount+ with a director I have always loved working with —Börkur Sigþórsson. Sigþórsson and I had … Read more
KEEPING THE STORY MOVING From sliders to SnorriCams, Steadicams and stabilisers, grip is so much more than just a support for the camera; it’s a way to make the lens dance in step with the story. Cinematographers today have a huge range of camera supports to choose from, depending on the mood, blocking and logistics … Read more
BEHIND THE SCREENS Cinematographer Shane Hurlbut ASC reveals how alongside Rudy Mancuso – director, writer, actor and composer of Música – they approached an in-camera split-screen scene. Rudy Mancuso, the director, writer, actor and composer of Música, and I had a series of seven three-hour brainstorms. During one of our deliberations, Rudy presented the idea … Read more
WHAT’S IN A FRAME? Simon Rowling shares his framing and composition rules when crafting the visual grammar for eerie folk horror Lord of Misrule. In autumn 2021 I was sent the script for folk horror Lord of Misrule by my agent. It was such an intense, spine-tingling read that I wasn’t able to put it … Read more
WOMEN OF THE HOUR Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti Hero’ video, written and directed by the multi-hyphenate singer, was a big hit with MTV Video Music Awards voters. Best Cinematography winner Rina Yang BSC reflects on her work on the fun shoot. “Watch my nightmare scenarios and intrusive thoughts play out in real time,” is how Taylor … Read more
Get with the programme Be it through image editing, 3D models, or just written notes, software is a crucial tool with which cinematographers communicate their creative intentions. “Software has become a completely vital part of my prep and shoot today,” says Adam Suschitzky BSC. For him this begins with Scriptation, the Emmy Award-winning app for … Read more
Deal or no deal Accessing funds to finance equipment has got harder but there are routes to capital that specialist brokers can help SMEs to navigate. The economic downturn, interest rate rises, inflation and the writers’ strike, plus ongoing budget cuts for unscripted TV among public service broadcasters, have combined to make the equipment asset … Read more
Igniting a spark Education is a key tenet of the British Society of Cinematographers and its recent workshop programme, in collaboration with London Screen Academy, gave underrepresented communities a hands-on – and in some cases life-changing – insight into the camera, lighting and grip departments. Some 85 participants from across the UK descended upon London … Read more
As we bid a not-so-fond farewell to a difficult 2023 for the industry, there are plenty of exciting innovations to look forward to in 2024. We’ve asked 16 experts for their thoughts on this year’s hottest topics. Sustainability in the spotlight As cinematography returns with a bang in 2024 the focus on doing so sustainably … Read more
(Art)ificial intelligence: a new force in filmmaking? The AI Rubicon has been crossed, but is the rise of the robots a good thing for cinematography? To call Stanley Kubrick a visionary would be an understatement. Having added artificial intelligence (AI) to the cinematic lexicon via the murderous computer HAL in the 1968 classic 2001: A … Read more
HITTING THE SPOT For the pacey pitch-side sequences in French sports biopic Marinette cinematographer Xavier Dolléans AFC looked to a robotic dolly system to help him keep up with the action. Marinette is actually the first biopic about a female sports player in France. It features Marinette Pichon, a now-retired French footballer, and her life … Read more
PASSION FOR EDUCATION The ACO’s Zoe Goodwin-Stuart shares details of the association’s training offerings including the success of a recent course aiming to elevate attendees to the next level in their career. “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin At the ACO we … Read more
TEAM SPIRIT As another chapter of fish-out-of-water football comedy Ted Lasso comes to a close, cinematographers David Rom and Vanessa Whyte reveal how they lensed some of season three’s most iconic sequences. An innovative approach was required by David Rom to create a sewer in a Victorian arch in East London. Ted Lasso and its … Read more
GAME ON Last year, Rick Joaquim SASC shot his most unusual project to date – Cuttlefish, a live-action video game from Flavourworks complete with over 140 interactive VFX sequences. He delves into the challenges of the choose-your-own-adventure narrative, sharing the tricks and techniques that helped make the visuals shine. I took on Cuttlefish firstly because … Read more
SHOTS THAT SOAR The movie business is a demanding beast, expecting blockbuster films to offer visuals that are bigger, faster, and more spectacular than both the competition and what went before. Which is where aerial sequences come in. The technology is certainly there to create standout aerial sequences. The camera mounts, gimbals, and stabilisation systems … Read more
INSPIRING FILMMAKERS OF THE FUTURE MetFilm School is a leading film and television media school with an approach to learning embedded in the industry. When writer-director Nikyatu Jusu’s psychological horror Nanny won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance last year, it not only acted as international calling card for its cinematographer Rina Yang BSC but … Read more
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED Delve into the artistry and technical mastery that brought to life RRR‘s most memorable sequence – the fiery encounter between the two protagonists – through the innovative use of miniatures and fiery lighting effects from K.K. Senthil Kumar ISC and his team. In RRR, the story of two of India’s … Read more
POP-MOTION Shot in just six days by a small crew dedicated to their craft, the music video accompanying Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” is still admired as a shining example of stop-motion success. 37 years after the video’s release, two members of the team reflect on the boundary-pushing process of discovery and invention. Having garnered an abundance … Read more
From stadium to screen Adopting a cinematic approach when lensing Coldplay’s concert film, director Paul Dugdale and cinematographer Brett Turnbull captured the band’s vibrant performance and production, alongside the atmosphere in the stadium and connection between artists and audience. One of the first concert films cinematographer Brett Turnbull and director Paul Dugdale collaborated on was … Read more