Here’s a good example of Gordon Willis’ use of the bay light.             This unit had been around the industry in a variety of configurations and names (‘coop’ lights, soft boxes, etc) for decades until he saved it from obscurity during the shooting of The Godfather in 1971.  Find this scene at the 0:32:06 … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #25 – THE MONEY PIT”

            I’ve always been of mixed mind regarding zoom lenses, though there’s no longer any reason to be that way.  It probably goes back to my early training when their optical quality fell short of primes and cinematographers regarded them warily.  For a long time zoom choices were limited – the 1970’s and ’80’s workhorses … Continue reading “ZOOM IN ON THIS…”

            I initially planned to begin posting another cinematography giant’s lighting diagrams this week, but a glance over The Money Pit batch changed my mind.  This was a different kind of film for Gordon Willis, ASC, a full-on comedy that called for a much softer touch than the one used for Presumed Innocent’s murder mystery.  … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #24 – THE MONEY PIT”

            I was speaking with the legendary Conrad Hall, ASC a few years before he passed away and he was bemoaning the lack of serious films being made at the time.  There was always fun to be had watching popcorn movies he admitted, but occasionally we need to see something with a little more substance.  … Continue reading “THE 7 MOST DEPRESSING FILMS OF ALL TIME”

            Happy New Year…!             Jeff Daniels’ character Ted Baxter (a 1930’s movie star who has stepped off the screen and into real life) tries to explain himself to several other characters.  This scene takes place in an empty church.  Find it at the 00:45:17 mark on the DVD.             This scene provides an example … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #23 – THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO”

            There’s a moment in Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors (photographed by Sven Nyqvist, ASC) in which his character, Cliff Stern, visits his aging parents at their apartment in Brooklyn.  In the midst of an existential crisis, Cliff asks his off-camera father a simple but perplexing question: “Why were there Nazis?”  The elder Stern’s reply … Continue reading “GOOD CHARACTER AND PEACE OF MIND”

            Merry Christmas…!             I day-played as an assistant cameraman on this 1985 film so I don’t have too much to offer in terms of lighting information or anecdotes.  The chart I’ve provided says a lot though, and I suggest you give it a close look.             As with last Friday’s post, it describes a … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #22 – THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO”

            With Christmas so close, I thought this was an appropriate subject for today…             Sincere displays of gratitude have become as difficult to find as a mainstream journalist without an agenda.  Sure, you can point to the teary theatrics of awards season, but those are generally so transparent as to not withstand a second … Continue reading “GRATITUDE”

            No, not that one…this one.             In early 1985 Gordon Willis, ASC was tasked with filming a short scene that was to appear in a Broadway stage production of the classic film, Singin’ In the Rain; I once again had the good luck to serve as an assistant cameraman on his crew.  If you’ll … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #21 – SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN”

            Well, read these books, actually…             Cinematography isn’t just about lighting, composition, color, camera movement and the post-production supervision of the work.  It also encompasses a variety of management skills, the mastery of which will determine your effectiveness as an artist and collaborator.  Everything any one of us sets out to achieve revolves around … Continue reading “READ THIS BOOK #3”