In the wake of the destruction caused by the Los Angeles wildfires, Christopher Ross BSC highlights the resilience of the community as it stands together to support the “industry’s spiritual home” and examines the catalysts of creativity that have produced some of the most powerful cinematic experiences.
Granularity
/ɡranjʊˈlarɪti/
Noun
- the degree to which a material, system or process is composed of distinguishable pieces, “granules” or “grains” (metaphorically)
“The marketing analysis offers a high level of granularity”
- the scale or level of detail in a set of data.
“The survey data doesn’t provide sufficient granularity to answer the questions”
- The perception of the graininess of an image, dependent on the content, complexity, colour and exposure density of the particular scene.
“The film used the granularity of Kodak stock to impart the rawness of the story onto the imagery”
As the industry reawakened after the Christmas break, time had been taken to unwind, reconnect with family, and reflect on another 12 months of this whirlwind filmmaking life. But return to work for many was short lived, however, as wildfires raged through Los Angeles County, putting homes, businesses and lives at risk across the city. The BSC, and its members, would like to express our heartfelt sympathies to the people of Los Angeles, a city we hold dear, as they face the devastating impact of these wildfires. The City of Angels is a beacon for our industry, a creative sanctuary where storytelling and artistry thrive. It is a place that has nurtured the dreams of countless filmmakers, including many of our own, and to see it battle such destruction is deeply saddening.
The wildfires remind us of the fragility of our world and the resilience of the communities within it. Los Angeles, the beating heart of global cinema, is more than just a city; it is a symbol of inspiration, innovation, and perseverance. As the inertia of award season continues, we see opportunities not just to celebrate artistic achievements but to unify as an industry and support this cherished city, the film industry’s spiritual home.
And there is much to celebrate within the glorious Seventh Art – long-awaited work from Francis Ford Coppola as well as the latest arrivals from Yorgos Lanthimos, Marielle Heller, Mike Leigh, Robert Eggers and Coralie Fargeat. Cinematographers have also been making themselves comfortable in the director’s chair… Ellen Kuras ASC returns with Lee and there are debuts from Rodrigo Prieto ASC AMC (Pedro Paramo) and Rachel Morrison ASC (The Fire Inside, photographed by Rina Yang BSC). The creative spirit is alive and well, and the cinematographers of the world are thriving.
But thoughts of accolades, awards and endowments inevitably lead to contemplation of the work; the creative choices, conscious decisions and intuitive hunches that propelled these projects to greatness. What was the launching-off point for each of these projects? What were the catalysts of creativity? This year’s award winners hold the key to unlocking these questions, each of these filmmakers has reached into the well of inspiration, enchanting audiences and provoking visceral, emotional reactions. Re-reading my Perspective from two years ago, I wanted to delve again into the world of the creative experience with a revitalised sense of human creativity and a reconfigured understanding of the recent flood of potential AI intervention.
In the quietest moments of the past year, I have been re-reading The Creative Act, an enlightening examination of the creative process by the record producer Rick Rubin. Whilst detailing how creativity is something you are, not only something that you do, Rick expounds the virtues of living a creatively curious life. “Creativity is a way of moving through the world, every minute, every day. Once you acquiesce to the demands of the creative life, it becomes a part of you… Staying in it means a commitment to remain open to what’s around you. Paying attention and listening.”
This drive for connection and resonance should become part of our daily lives. There are so many tasks to be dealt with that it’s easy to fall into the trap of repetition but, by allowing our daily observations to filter into the process, creativity can grow as we grow, evolve as we evolve. By allowing our creative and real lives to blend we are allowing our own emotional landscape to interact with that of our film, perhaps this blend could hold a key to an audience’s emotional resonance?
In John Nosta’s recent essay, “Existential Creativity in an Artificial Intelligence-Driven World”, the author asks, hypothetically, which element of the creative process remains truly and uniquely human? He argues that the answer could lay in the emotional and existential depths that machines cannot replicate. “This is an existential creativity—a form of expression that transcends data, algorithms, and mere problem-solving, rooted instead in the human experience of grappling with life’s most fundamental questions. Existential creativity isn’t just about producing something novel. It’s a reflection of our deepest emotions—fear, joy, love, loss—and our desire to make sense of life’s uncertainties.”
The future may bring us a more granular version of our creative act, a return to a very human form of recognition, inspiration and creation. As AI bots anchor themselves to words and existing imagery to prompt responsive images, there is something naïve and ordinary about this automated creative process. Perhaps filmmakers can once again revel in the frailty of the human experience and learn to channel our most primitive instincts. As has long been the case, success or failure will be measured in our ability to move our audiences to tears of sorrow or joy.
To paraphrase John Berger, “what makes cinematography such a strange invention, with unforeseeable consequences, is that its primary raw materials are light and time.” Let us live our lives in light and time, letting our very existence bleed through the edges of the frame.
Stay creative, Los Angeles.
Please donate to: American Society of Cinematographers ASC Relief Fund
