…the pursuit of something new, that is.          For cinematographers, staying fresh and relevant has become a nearly impossible challenge.  With the vast amount of filmed material now available at the touch of a button, we’re overwhelmed with so much sophisticated imagery that it’s hard to imagine a revolutionary look ever blowing up the … Continue reading “IT NEVER ENDS…”

         So, I changed my mind.  Big deal.  Or, is it, really?          I’m referring to a recent reassessment of two films that I wasn’t too crazy about upon first viewing.  To wit: Burn After Reading (2008; Ethan Coen & Joel Coen; Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC) and The Bikeriders (2023; Jeff Nichols\Adam Stone).  I saw … Continue reading “SHIFTING TIDES”

         Two nights ago, I unexpectedly found myself attending an outdoor screening at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills…and I’m so glad that I did!          The film – 1925’s silent western, The Clash of the Wolves – was directed by Noel M. Smith and photographed by Edwin B. DuPar, Allen Thompson and an uncredited Joseph … Continue reading “WHAT A GREAT EVENING!”

         Like the rock star he is, Jeff IV woke up late on what was supposed to be an off day and capriciously decided to cut a few sides.  I notified the band (no easy task) and hustled him down to the studio.  During a break I suggested this shot for the promotional poster; I’m … Continue reading “LOS ANGELES, CA, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2025, 12:20PM”

Baseball’s Golden Age: The Photographs of Charles M. Conlon Neal McCabe & Constance McCabe Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1993          The fact that this fabulous yet little-known book concerns baseball is of secondary concern.  What will excite you is the incredible photography contained between its covers.  Though the material is somewhat documentary in nature, there’s … Continue reading “HISTORY AND A GREAT LOOK”

         Yesterday marked seven months since the catastrophic fires that destroyed the communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, California.  As an affected individual, I found myself flooded with images from that sorry day, yet not all of them were bad.  I said it then and I’ll say it now – tragic as it was, living … Continue reading “THE TIME HAS NOT PASSED QUICKLY”

         Here’s a snippet of dialogue drawn from the super-cheapo mid-century sci-fi feature, Terror from the Year 5000 (1958; Robert J. Gurney, Jr.\Arthur Florman).  It was brought to my attention by representatives of the National Department of Redundancy Department.  The poor excuse for an actor who was forced to deliver the words did so with … Continue reading “REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE”

         Hot on the trail of Tuesday’s post, AI remains at the top of my mind.  Check out this music video created by the brilliant Irish director and writer, Ruairi Robinson.  It’s remarkable!  Save for the lyrics (drawn from Rudyard Kipling’s poem of the same name), Boots was created entirely by generative AI.  Nothing in … Continue reading “KICK UP YOUR HEELS!”

         A friend of mine who’s a special effects wizard tipped me off to Runway’s Aleph, yet another offering from the world of Artificial Intelligence.  At first, I was amused.  But the deeper I delved was the more I found its implications fascinating.  Check it out for yourself: https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-aleph          For anyone who might’ve spent … Continue reading “RUNWAY ALEPH”

         From an appearance at Soho House in West Hollywood on behalf of the Variety 120 Screening Series, sponsored by the digital projection company Barco and held on July 10.  This little chat – with thanks to hostess Jazz Tancay – followed a screening of Frank Capra’s classic holiday season film, It’s a Wonderful Life … Continue reading “CHRISTMAS IN JULY”