Taylor Swift’s music video All Too Well: The Short Film scooped the prestigious MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Video of the Year at the 2022 ceremony, held on 28 August.
The cinematographer behind the video was Rina Yang BSC. Yang, whose work includes Euphoria, Nanny, Sitting in Limbo and Top Boy, joined Swift on stage with actor Dylan O’Brien and producer Saul Germaine to accept the award. Yang was part of the most recent cohort of new British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) members and the award marks her latest industry success. The video also won in the Best Longform Video and Best Direction categories.
All Too Well: The Short Film was shot on 35mm film, using an ARRI Arriflex 235 for handheld and Steadicam, and Panavision MXL for dolly work. Earlier this year, Yang spoke to British Cinematographer about the making of the video (issue 109), which accompanies a previously unreleased 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’. She spoke about the “amazing time” she had working with Swift and how their trust expedited the shooting process without compromising on quality.
Was there any added pressure or excitement for Yang due to the passion of Swift’s fanbase? “When it comes to fame and celebrity I’m not the best person to ask: I live in a classic DOP bubble,” the cinematographer admitted. “Because I often shoot projects back to back, I sometimes have to ask the internet who someone is! Although I knew who Taylor was, I didn’t quite realise the magnitude of her popularity, so I didn’t feel that kind of pressure. Having worked with her I get why though. She’s thoughtful, talented, and fun to be around. No wonder the fans love her!”
Yang adapted her lensing style to shoot the short. “I did move the camera a lot more than I would have normally – thinking how the shots would flow with the track,” she said at the time. “But I kept asking my Steadicam operator to hold the shots here and there, rather than keep gliding. I wanted it to be like how I’d shoot a straight up narrative film, for us to be able to hold and take in the actors’ performances, and to have edit points.”
While collecting the award, Swift revealed that her next album, ‘Midnights’, would be released on 21 October.
Read our full interview with Yang here.
