The Cinematographer’s Voice: Insights Into the World of Visual Storytelling
Edited by Lindsay Coleman and Roberto Schaefer, ASC, AIC
State University of New York Press
2022
Consisting of interviews with twenty-three cinematographers from across the spectrum, this book needs to be in the hands of everyone interested in filmmaking. There’s plenty of practical information to be devoured, but just as interesting are the issues of taste, philosophy and art which are also drawn out in great detail. This is indeed a rare commodity in an examination of our profession; most of them get lost in the high grass of equipment and gadgetry. That the material was primarily assembled during the 2010’s is of no less value to the attentive reader. Certainly, digital technology has improved since then, but the observations and insights provided by the subjects supersede any constraint of time.
There’s good reason for this. The co-editors bring tremendous expertise to the party. Lindsay Coleman is an academic who has published a number of film-related books, while Roberto Schaefer – who, by the way, is also a friend and colleague of mine – is a busy cinematographer with many notable feature and television credits to his name. Both are on-point in the tailoring of the inquiries, effectively bridging the gap between the novice and professional in ways that will satisfy both camps.
I enjoyed The Cinematographer’s Voice immensely and recommend it to everyone, regardless of crew-designation or experience level. With any luck, I should hope that a Volume Two might someday land in our laps.
The book is available through the ASC and the other familiar venues. If you’re a true student of the game, you won’t delay in getting a copy!