If anyone doubts that corruption has always been present at the highest levels of our government, I’d advise them to have a look at The Best Man. Directed by Franklin Schaffner and photographed in glorious black and white by the legendary Haskell Wexler, ASC, this film proves that not much has changed in politics … Continue reading “THE BEST MAN (1964)”
Month: September 2021
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #61 – DOWN TO EARTH
Night\Exterior on the streets of Manhattan… How do we run Chris Rock over with a garbage truck without harming a hair on his head? Spoiler alert: It was all done in the cutting. Of course, an editor can only work with what they’re given, so shot selection was of supreme importance. I recall … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #61 – DOWN TO EARTH”
STUDENT QUICK TIP #2
Don’t be a slave to the source. Light to make things look good! I’ve been fortunate that while watching films, I can easily turn off the cinematographer part of my brain and enjoy them as any civilian would. This’s not so for many of my colleagues – and I sympathize with the dilemma. On the … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #2”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #60 – BRING IT ON AGAIN
WARNING: Mixing water and electricity – however inadvertently – can lead to serious injury or death! Only responsible, experienced personnel should participate in the mounting of this type of effect! Students often ask about the best way to get a dappling reflection off standing water. The effect relies on the angle at which the light … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #60 – BRING IT ON AGAIN”
THELONIOUS MONK ON HOW TO PLAY A GIG, PART 5
The final installment… Monk’s observations should be printed out in large font and taped to the wall of every camera truck in the world! Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig, & when it comes, he’s out of shape & can’t make it. The obvious reference here would be to … Continue reading “THELONIOUS MONK ON HOW TO PLAY A GIG, PART 5”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #59 – GOOD GIRLS REVOLT
Once again, hats off to principal cinematographer and colleague Cynthia Pushek, ASC. She did an amazing job on this show and I was privileged to have contributed some additional photography to the effort. This simple bit of business illustrates the solving of a technical problem that really used to bug me as a young cinematographer … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #59 – GOOD GIRLS REVOLT”
THELONIOUS MONK ON HOW TO PLAY A GIG, PART 4
…in which I continue to interpret the great jazz pianist’s rules – for use by cinematographers. The inside of the tune (the bridge) is the part that makes the outside sound good. There are no insignificant shots. Nothing you do exists in a vacuum. From the smallest insert to the sweeping vista, … Continue reading “THELONIOUS MONK ON HOW TO PLAY A GIG, PART 4”
LIGHTING DIAGRAM #58 – BROOKLYN RULES
The main characters have a night out on the tiles… I was never much of a clubhound while growing up in New York – for starters, I despised disco music – but I passed through enough of them to have developed a sense of what one should feel like. Loud, crowded, smoky, low-key but vulgar … Continue reading “LIGHTING DIAGRAM #58 – BROOKLYN RULES”