ISLAND LIFE Australian films and television have always reflected the country’s two landscapes: the fertile, more urbanised coastal regions and the huge, central interior known as the Outback. In recent years, the darker side of isolated, small town communities has become a focus for filmmakers, with The Tailings ostensibly the latest example of the genre. … Read more
NATURAL BEAUTY When lensing the modern retelling of Black Beauty, cinematographer David Procter’s pursuit of an authentic world was central in creating an empathetic connection with the audience and ensuring the film’s core themes remain relatable. Writer/director Ashley Avis’s contemporary take on the much-loved classic Black Beauty relocates the narrative of Anna Sewell’s 1877 novel … Read more
EAT THE RICH Netflix has put its money behind A-list filmmakers like Spike Lee, Aaron Sorkin and George Clooney whose films are all in the running for accolades. Da 5 Bloods, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and The Midnight Sky all have their merits, but none hold as high a rating as Ramin Bahrani’s … Read more
The Russian cameraman and filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky is known for his poetic and visually powerful documentaries ¡Vivan las Antipodas! and Aquarela. His black and white silent film Gunda takes us back to the origins of filmmaking. For Joaquin Phoenix, executive producer, it’s a film of profound importance and artistry. Birgit Heidsiek spoke with Victor Kossakovsky … Read more
Satire In Space Eben Bolter BSC / Avenue 5 Satire In Space Eben Bolter BSC / Avenue 5 BY: Michael Burns With a spaceship-sized set, comic timing, a thousand-strong cast, integrated lighting, and a devastating fire, British cinematographer Eben Bolter BSC and the crew of Avenue 5 steered Armando Iannucci’s sci-fi epic to the screen. … Read more
Trick of the Light Michael Coulter BSC / The Hustle Trick of the Light Michael Coulter BSC / The Hustle BY: Kevin Hilton Many films are not always shot where they are set. The main action of new comedy The Hustle takes place on the French Riviera, but cinematographer Michael Coulter BSC concedes that “not … Read more
Light and Dark Nancy Schreiber ASC / Mapplethorpe Light and Dark Nancy Schreiber ASC / Mapplethorpe WANT TO READ IT ALL? Below is only a teaser, and the full interview can be found in the May 2019 issue (93) of British Cinematographer magazine. If you purchase a year’s digital subscription from just £30, or a … Read more
Hart pounding Eric Steelberg ASC / The Front Runner Hart pounding Eric Steelberg ASC / The Front Runner All images c/o Columbia Pictures BY: Trevor Hogg One of the catchiest headlines was published by People Magazine in 1987, which read ‘Hart Stopper’ in reference to Florida model Donna Rice and her alleged extramarital affair that … Read more
Point & Shoot Dariusz Wolski ASC / Sicario: Day Of The Soldado Point & Shoot Dariusz Wolski ASC / Sicario: Day Of The Soldado BY: Valentina Valentini Long before cinematographer Dariusz Wolski ASC had even read the script for Sicario: Day Of The Soldado, he says he had heard great things about the film’s Italian … Read more
Book Club Zac Nicholson BSC / The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society Book Club Zac Nicholson BSC / The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society BY: Kevin Hilton Increasingly these days, the influence of the modern world means that many places do not look as they did in the past. This problem faced the … Read more
Future-noir Gary Shaw / Mute Future-noir Gary Shaw / Mute BY: Ron Prince Mute , the latest feature from director Duncan Jones, is a dark, despairing thriller, exploring themes of parenthood and hope. Set in a futuristic version of Berlin, circa 2050, the story follows a mute bartender played by Alexander Skarsgård, who goes up … Read more
Lighting ghosts Ben Smithard BSC / The Man Who Invented Christmas Lighting ghosts Ben Smithard BSC / The Man Who Invented Christmas BY: Valentina Valentini Ben Smithard BSC has shot of a lot of films set in a range of periods throughout historical England – The Damned United, My Week With Marilyn, Belle, Diana And … Read more
As You Like It John de Borman BSC / Will As You Like It John de Borman BSC / Will BY: Kevin Hilton Episodic TV drama usually follows a template for directorial style, camera technique and overall look that is laid down in the pilot. But there are always exceptions. The TNT production Will was … Read more
Birth of a nation Ben Smithard BSC / Viceroy’s House Birth of a nation Ben Smithard BSC / Viceroy’s House “Shooting on film is always a good experience. Although it’s perhaps a bit hackneyed to say that ‘film is magic’… it’s true! I knew from the outset that it would be easier to get the look I … Read more