Sometime during the early morning hours of January 7, we lost perhaps the last giant of American cinematography, Owen Roizman, ASC.  In failing health for quite some time, his passing wasn’t unexpected but it struck home especially hard.             Owen was a close friend for nearly twenty-five years.  When we met, if I was … Continue reading “OWEN ROIZMAN, ASC, 1936-2023”

            Writer William Roberts continues to draw Gregg Toland, ASC out in the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen.  His article was titled, Shooting For the Stars.             I inquired about Toland’s most recent and celebrated patient, Orson Welles.             “Shot ‘Citizen Kane’ in sixteen weeks,” explained Toland.  “It’s an unusual picture. For example, we … Continue reading “MORE FROM MODERN SCREEN”

            Gregg Toland, ASC continues to expound in this second excerpt from William Roberts’ February 1941 article, Shooting For the Stars.  In an era during which information was so tightly controlled by the studios, it’s interesting that he spoke with such candor.  Modern Screen was a mass-market fan magazine, but it seems he’s talking a … Continue reading “IN HIS OWN WORDS…”

            On this eve of New Year’s Eve, I thought it would be fun to look back to the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen magazine.  In it resides an article written by William Roberts, titled Shooting For the Stars.  Ignore the studio-flack hyperbole and enjoy it for what it is: A rare, fan-rag look … Continue reading “SOON TO BE EIGHTY-TWO YEARS AGO…”

            Macro-shots of cookies notwithstanding, a great opportunity lurks beneath the fattening waves of Christmas cheer.  Reclaim the TV remote from your nephew, hit the ‘search’ button and let your imagination run free.  Never before have so many worthwhile films been so easily accessible to the curious cinematographer!             Some odd suggestions I recently caught … Continue reading “TOO MUCH FUN”

            As I sat down to compose today’s post, it dawned on me that there were better things to be doing this time of year.  Like sitting in a nice, warm Irish pub, nursing a Jameson and photographing the back of people’s heads.             Which speaks to one of the great truths of creation: No … Continue reading “YOU SHOULD DO IT TOO…”

            Like anyone who’s maniacally certain of their take on a particular issue, I’m always searching for words, opinions and actions that support my position.  So, for the latest dose of confirmation bias, I present a quote from Beat Generation author Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel, The Dharma Bums.             “One day I will find the … Continue reading “ON A KEROUAC KICK”

            Just to prove that cinematographers aren’t alone in the pursuit of perfection, I present a statement from one of my all-time favorite vocalists, Linda Ronstadt:             “It’s always like that when you record: You always think that you can do a better job.  You know, the whole thing with recording is you have to … Continue reading “LINDA’S LEGACY”

            A week ago, I delivered a post that deconstructed some intriguing shadow play in the studio-era gem, Casablanca (1942).             Well, its cinematographer, Arthur Edeson, ASC, was hardly the first to engage such a device.  In 1939, Ernest Haller, ASC pulled off a similar feat in another legendary movie, Gone With the Wind.             … Continue reading “MORE PRESTIDIGITATION”

            The following post currently appears as an article in the November 2022 issue of Cinematography World.  It’s titled Rat Catcher and is featured in the magazine’s Letter From America column.             I love being a cinematographer.             This’s not to say my feelings haven’t evolved over the years.  The initial rush of being on … Continue reading “CRAZY BUT STILL KINDA COOL”