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We don't talk enough about the cinematography of documentaries. But we should. And this time, we did.
Daughters premiered in January at Sundance and was released on Netflix in August. The film, co-directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, centers on and follows four young girls preparing for a special Daddy-Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. This event is part of a unique fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C. jail. For most of these girls, the dance is their only opportunity to touch or hug their fathers during sentences that, in some cases, span as long as 20 years.
A film this heartfelt calls for an equally compelling conversation, and Michael Cambio Fernandez, the documentary's cinematographer, delivered exactly that.
In our chat, Cambio walks us through not only his early works but also his life before becoming a cinematographer, his involvement in Daughters, how he navigated its most challenging moments, and how he found the balance between the intentional and unexpected directions the story took. -
The series adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude has captivated audiences for a week now in its highly anticipated series adaptation. While a story of this scale requires time to fully absorb, we’ve got a little “nudge” to help you dive deeper: our interview with the TV show’s cinematographers, Maria Sarasvati Herrera and Paulo Perez.
In this conversation, they take us behind the scenes, sharing not only the journey of bringing the show to life but also their personal reflections on reading the novel and envisioning its world, plus cross-border heritage. -
Mangler du episoder?
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To start the week strong, we sit down with cinematographer Markus Förderer and production designer Julian M. Wagner to discuss their work on Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5.
The duo shares their initial reactions to the script, how they approached the sensitive subject of the Munich massacre, and the extensive research that went into their technical and material decisions, in order to ensure that the gravity of the event is honored with precision. -
After its world premiere in late August at the Telluride Film Festival, the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel, Nickel Boys has taken festivals, awards season, and audiences by storm over the past few months.
We had the opportunity to sit down with writer-director RaMell Ross after a screening and Q&A of the film at the Camerimage Festival, where it played as part of the Directors’ Debut Competition. Then, a week before RaMell’s masterpiece (yes, you read that right) releases in a limited number of theaters, we connected with the two leads, Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, who portray Elwood and Turner in the acclaimed film.
Our conversations with the three of them cover the crucial topic of the film’s visual language, both behind and in front of the camera, along with the unexpected challenges and the weight of the responsibility that comes with striving for authenticity.
(Photo credits: L. Kasimu Harris / Orion Pictures / Amazon Studios) -
Our coverage of Sing Sing is far from over! Why would it be? Awards season has just begun!
This week, we’re joined by the film’s co-writer and producer, Clint Bentley. After his feature directorial debut, Jockey, Clint passed the director’s chair to his longtime collaborator, Greg Kwedar.
In our conversation with Clint, we explored his and Greg’s working relationship, its dynamics, the delicacy and profound impact of Sing Sing, and the many ways art can help us heal and survive. -
After lensing one of last year’s most unexpected yet remarkable double-feature pairings - Barbie and Killers of the Flower Moon - Rodrigo Prieto, widely regarded as one of his generation’s finest cinematographers, brings us his feature directorial debut, Pedro Páramo.
This time around on the show, we had the privilege of sitting down with Rodrigo at Camerimage, the world’s No1 festival dedicated to the art of cinematography. During our conversation, we talk about the experience of adapting one's favorite book into a feature-length project, navigating the fears and pressures that come with it, and the power images hold.
(Photo credit: Juan Rosas / Netflix) -
Following the widely successful stage production of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Malcolm Washington has chosen the story as his feature directorial debut, with the film produced by his father, Denzel Washington, and Netflix.
Three actors reprise their roles from the stage production, bringing their immense talent to the screen: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and, last but not least, today’s guest, Ray Fisher!
Ray was kind enough to join us on the show to discuss the evolution of his relationship with the character of Lymon, the importance of the collaborators and peers who surround him, and his journey through the ever-changing waves of the entertainment industry.
(Photo credit: David Lee / Netflix) -
Without a doubt one of 2024’s biggest cinematic events is The Substance. Coralie Fargeat’s body horror premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival to great critical acclaim and has been gathering more and more attention ever since. We managed to sit down with the film’s cinematographer Benjamin Kračun for an interview.
If you’ve seen the film, you surely know just how gripping it looks and feels. The Substance has a very distinct visual style, and Ben was kind enough to share some behind the scenes looks on prepping, shooting, and working with Coralie.
During our discussion we go through how they planned to differentiate the two main characters with lighting and colors, how the story set in LA was actually shot in France, and of course, the extreme body horror elements. -
Despite Sean Baker’s impressive track record, his seventh feature, Anora, might be what brings him the next level of critical- and, more importantly, commercial- success.
Baker, who shoots his projects on film, reteamed with DoP Drew Daniels for the second time after Red Rocket. Drew, whose work you might know from projects such as Waves or It Comes at Night (both directed by Trey Edward Shults), was kind enough to join us for an extensive conversation and gave a detailed rundown of the challenges posed by circumstances and other factors while filming Anora, as well as the synergy between him and Sean. -
If you're wondering what legendary director Sam Raimi is up to these days (besides prepping his next project Send Help, rumored to star Rachel McAdams), he’s busy producing films. His latest project is Don’t Move, directed by Brian Netto and Adam Schindler, and headlined by Kelsey Asbille.
In our conversation with Type AB, we touch on the duo's directing history, the production set in Bulgaria, and the thematic exploration of distances within the story and its characters.
(Photo credit: Vladislav Lepoev / Netflix) -
Spending too much time within the confines of your home, in front of your computer, might lead some to tell you to “touch some grass”. But what do you do when that’s not an option? You touch others’ hearts in the world of World of Warcraft and make a difference in the digital world that translates into the real one. That’s exactly what Mats 'Ibelin' Steen did during his short yet impactful life. His story came to life in director Benjamin Ree's genre-bending documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin.
In our interview with Benjamin, we dive deep into both the emotional and technological sides of crafting this touching story, which reveals the unexpected surprises a physically and temporally limited life can hold.
(Photos: Courtesy of Benjamin Ree & Netflix) -
No story is easy to tell, and you can always complicate it for yourself, but that might be beneficial for your purpose.
Taking on the conflicting institution of fraternities presented a similar challenge for first-time director Ethan Berger, who remained committed to his vision and wasn’t afraid to make changes to his script as time passed and life evolved.
Ethan’s film, along with our conversation with him, explores feelings of responsibility, the limits we push within ourselves and each other, and what the future might hold.
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Empirical) -
A directorial debut is always a significant event, not just for the director, but for everyone involved in the project. And no film can truly succeed without a strong script, which is the case for Woman of the Hour, starring and directed by Anna Kendrick, and written by our next guest, Ian McDonald.
In this episode, we explore the film, based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his appearance on a televised dating show. Ian shares insights into his script's journey from page to screen, discusses the similarities shared between relationships in the '70s and today, and outlines the necessary changes made to the characters' personalities.
(Photo credit: Courtesy of Julia Max) -
We all have our 'most anticipated films' that we can't wait to be released, but of course, sometimes filmmakers have to wait for their projects to see the light of day. The incredibly talented director duo, Celine Held and Logan George, shot Caddo Lake three years ago, and now we finally get to see it!
In our little conversation with them (0:57), we cover the dynamics of their directing relationship and M. Night Shyamalan's involvement in the project.
Then, providing context to the entirety of the shoot and the incredible team behind Caddo Lake, we are joined by cinematographer Lowell A. Meyer (8:38). Lowell has been a part of Celine and Logan's works since forever. His participation in the development and evolution of their visual language is beyond doubt.
Our chat with Lowell varies in topics, from the logistics of shooting on the water to his future projects.
(Photos: Courtesy of Celine Held and Logan George) -
If you’re wondering where the term “anxiety chic” comes from, It’s What’s Inside!
This time around on the show, you can listen to our conversations with the film's writer-director Greg Jardin (0:52), and actor David Thompson (17:32).
First up, Greg shares his experience working on trailers, the core idea's journey from script to screen, and creating a comfortable atmosphere for actors on set. Then, David joins us to talk about the contradictions in acting, ownership over characters, and the concept of a body swap - from the casting process to the final performance.
(Photo credits: Erica Hernández / Courtesy of Netflix) -
Following the release of Sing Sing, another breakout title from last year’s TIFF is finally here, in the form of His Three Daughters! This three-hander, starring Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon, and Elizabeth Olsen, is written and directed by Azazel Jacobs. Harrowingly gorgeous and at times lovingly funny, the film offers a subtle depiction of grief, mortality, and familial dynamics.
We were fortunate enough to sit down with Aza and pick his brain about one of the most well-written scripts in recent memory, drawing the absolute best from his three leads (all of whom he wrote the characters specifically for), and the true essence of comic relief.
(Photo credits: Sam Levy & GODLIS / Netflix) -
Dear Listener,
From time to time, we’ll treat you to different themes and formats, like our new series, “Rewind”. This special edition of the show will drop in your feed every month or so.
The very first episode of “Rewind” is, needless to say, a special one. We are excited to welcome cinematographer turned director Paul Cameron. The two main titles we cover are Man on Fire and Collateral, both of which celebrate their 20th anniversary this year.
In addition to Paul’s anecdotes and experiences on these projects, he gives us insight into his transition from DoP to Director, his perspective on his role in the industry, and, of course, what might be next for him. -
For a few years now, Apple has been consistently building out its streaming platform with the help of great artists and prestigious projects. Their new release, Lady in the Lake is a limited series starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram. Áron had the pleasure of welcoming the show’s cinematographer Lachlan Milne, and production designer JC Molina to the show.
As Lady in the Lake takes place in 1960s Baltimore, there were plenty of topics to discuss about the visuals of the project. Having the cinematographer and the production designer on at the same time provided a great opportunity to dive into their collaboration and talk through how the teams and departments worked together to create this stunning period piece.
Lachland and JC were also kind enough to give us an insight into the research process, and even shared what emotional scenes were particularly hard to shoot or create for them.
(Plus they teased their upcoming projects: Michel Gondry’s Atlantis, and Mimi Cave’s Holland, Michigan.)
(Photo credit: Apple) -
We had the director-cinematographer duo of Shōgun Episodes 1-2, Jonathan van Tulleken and Chris Ross, on the show back in April. Since then the series received 26 Emmy nominations, including two for cinematography. One of these nominations went to Chris, and now we're joined by the other incredibly talented DOP nominee, Sam McCurdy.
Sam has an impressive résumé in television, having worked on shows like Game of Thrones, Peacemaker, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
This provides the perfect opportunity for Áron to pick his brain about choosing projects, transitioning between them, and even discussing Episode 9 of Shōgun, Crimson Sky, for which not only he, but also director Fred Toye received an Emmy nod.
(Photo credit: Katie Yu/FX) -
Now that Sing Sing is expanding to more theaters, we’re ramping up our coverage of the film! In our interview with cinematographer Pat Scola, we talked about both A Quiet Place: Day One and Sing Sing. Today we’re pleased to share Áron’s conversation with the editor of A24’s big title contender, Parker Laramie!
This interview sheds some light on the evolution of Parker’s collaboration with director Greg Kwedar and co-writer Clint Bentley, the question of runtime, screen time, and expectations. - Se mer
