September 18, 2024

Shotcraft: A Masterclass in Cinematography with Jay Holben

Shotcraft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography is a new book by veteran cinematographer, producer and director Jay Holben. Shotcraft offers a comprehensive guide to the art and science of filmmaking. Based on his popular column in American Cinematographer, the book offers insightful essays and practical tips that cover a wide range of topics, from technical fundamentals to creative storytelling.

Jay emphasizes the importance of understanding the technical aspects of cinematography while also nurturing one’s artistic vision. He encourages readers to experiment with different techniques, test, try and learn about the latest technology, and build a strong network within the industry.

Key takeaways:

Master the fundamentals: A solid grasp of technical knowledge, including lighting, exposure, and camera movement, is essential for successful cinematography.
Develop your artistic eye: Cinematography is as much about creativity as it is about technical skill. Experiment with different styles and techniques to find your unique voice.
Build a strong network: Networking with other filmmakers can provide valuable opportunities, mentorship, and support.
Create a compelling reel: A well-crafted reel is a powerful tool for showcasing your skills and attracting potential clients, especially before you have agency representation.

You can buy Shotcraft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography on Jay’s website: http://jayholben.com/shotcraftbook

Jay has a companion book to Shotcraft coming out next month. It covers tips and stories from the top cinematographers in the world such as Roger Deakins, Harris Savites, Janusz Kamiński, and Greig Frazier.

Find Jay Holben: http://jayholben.com/
Instagram: @jayholben

**WIN A COPY OF SHOTCRAFT! Like, Follow and Comment on our post for this week’s episode on Instagram, Facebook or Threads and we will pick a winner**
*Winner must be within the continental U.S.!*

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Sponsored by ARRI: https://www.arri.com/en

The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com
Facebook: @cinepod
Instagram: @thecinepod
Twitter: @ShortEndz

September 11, 2024

Hollywood’s rainbow: Hollywood Pride author Alonso Duralde

Hollywood has long been a place of glamour and storytelling, but its history with LGBTQ+ representation is complex and ever-evolving. Film critic Alonso Duralde dives deep into this fascinating world in his new book, Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film.

Hollywood Pride is a history of queer Hollywood in chronological order, starting from the very beginnings of cinema in 1895 and journeying all the way to 2022. It’s not just about the movies themselves; Alonso delves into the lives of the artists – actors, directors, writers, and more – who have shaped Hollywood, both on and off screen. “The book is a look at how queer history evolved over those decades, off the screen and in society,” Alonso explains. “And then how that was reflected in the movies.”

Each chapter focuses on a specific period, highlighting the key LGBTQ+ figures and films of that era. It explores not only positive portrayals but also the coded messages and subtext that emerged during times of censorship, like the Hays Code era. Alonso argues that even negative portrayals hold certain significance. “Even negative inclusion is at least visibility and a reminder that we exist,” he says. “It’s not the greatest reminder, but it’s better than nothing.”

The book examines Alfred Hitchcock’s films, some of which are very homophobic, but still offer a glimpse of LGBTQ+ characters.There are also unexpected gems celebrated in the book, such as 1999’s The Mummy, a film that has resonated with the bisexual community. By the 1970’s, Dog Day Afternoon and Midnight Cowboy could more openly deal with gay characters, if not in the best light.

Alonso especially enjoyed writing about Salome, Caged, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Ed Wood’s Glen or Glenda, and by the 1990’s, the era of the New Queer Cinema movement. While celebrating the strides made in LGBTQ+ representation, Alonso acknowledges there are still many stories waiting to be told. “It feels like I was skimming the surface of a very deep topic,” he says. But even a glimpse into this rich history is a valuable step forward, offering a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences in cinema and beyond.

You can find Hollywood Pride as a book, ebook, or audiobook wherever books are sold.

**WIN A COPY OF HOLLYWOOD PRIDE! Like, Follow and Comment on our post for this week’s episode on Instagram, Facebook or Threads and we will pick a winner**
*Winner must be within the continental U.S.!*

Find Alonso Duralde: Instagram: @alonso.duralde

Listen to our previous interview with Alonso Duralde about his Christmas film book, Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas. https://www.camnoir.com/holiday2018/

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The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com
Facebook: @cinepod
Instagram: @thecinepod
Twitter: @ShortEndz

June 5, 2024

Shogun director Jonathan van Tulleken and cinematographer Christopher Ross, BSC

The FX miniseries Shōgun takes viewers on a journey filled with action and adventure through historically accurate 1600’s Edo-era Japan. Englishman John Blackthorne arrives on a Dutch trading ship after a rough voyage, interested in beginning trade with the Japanese. The country is governed by five regents locked in a power struggle, and the ruler Toranaga thinks the Englishman might be useful to him.

Director Jonathan van Tulleken and cinematographer Christopher Ross worked on episodes one and two together, establishing the look of the series. They have a deep understanding of each other’s creative vision, collaborating on several TV shows over the years. For Shōgun, Jonathan and Chris created a visual experience that honors both the grandeur of feudal Japan and the disorientation of a foreign visitor like the “anjin,” John Blackthorne. The two met and created a look book and sizzle reel to present to FX. Jonathan drew inspiration from movies such as The Revenant and Apocalypse Now. Chris was influenced by classic Japanese films Ran, Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Akira Kirosawa’s jidaigeki (historical drama) films. Most importantly, they wanted the show to be bold and stand out with a cinematic look and genuine artistic intention behind it. Chris chose anamorphic lenses and wider aspect ratios for the first two episodes, playing with the point of view of the outsider’s subjectivity and disorientation. The choice of anamorphic lenses, which create a lot of background blur but keeps the character in crisp focus, may have seemed controversial, but has become more widely used on today’s television shows. (Read this article from The Ringer to learn more.)

Shōgun was shot in British Columbia during the winter, with the wild ocean shores of Canada and carefully designed soundstages standing in for Japan. Jonathan, Chris and the production team chose a lighting and color palette of browns and greens for the warring factions. Opulent costumes, warmer lights and colors represented palace life in Osaka, while in the village, the use of blues and grays reflected the harsh realities of the time period.

The dialog is almost entirely in Japanese, and Jonathan actually enjoyed directing in a language he didn’t speak. “It meant that you were not giving line readings, you couldn’t give line readings. You had to direct in a much more pure way, dealing with the bigger arcs of the scene, the character development, without getting into very macro stuff that isn’t helpful. I think you could just feel the emotion.” Chris agrees. “What you’re hoping to achieve is some sort of emotional resonance with a character that is in tune with what they’re saying and synchronous with what they’re saying.”

Find Jonathan Van Tulleken: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1743387/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Find Chris Ross: Instagram @edjibevel

Sponsored by Hot Rod Cameras www.hotrodcameras.com
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The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com
Facebook: @cinepod
Instagram: @thecinepod
Twitter: @ShortEndz

May 1, 2024

Hundreds of Beavers director Mike Cheslik and cinematographer Quinn Hester

Hundreds of Beavers is a callback to slapstick comedies like classic WB Looney Tunes cartoons. It’s full of live-action wacky pratfalls, ridiculous situations, and a healthy dose of beaver-related mayhem. Shot on a micro-budget of $150,000, Hundreds of Beavers was made with passion, creativity, and a whole lot of beaver costumes.

Director Mike Cheslik and cinematographer Quinn Hester and most of the cast and crew are all from Wisconsin, where Hundreds of Beavers was shot. Everyone was comfortable with snow, loved physical comedy, and had the desire to make a film that would stand out as a true indie. After first meeting at the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2018, Mike called Quinn in October, 2020 to ask if he’d DP the film during the winter in zero degree weather. “It couldn’t have been anybody but Quinn because he’s just a tough guy and he’s used to the winter,” says Mike. In total, the film took about 8 weeks of shooting with a core crew of about 4-6 people over the course of two winters. The main location was a remote cabin in Northern Wisconsin. “We’re out there in the elements. It’s very rare to be on a production where you are not only making a movie and having to use all your energy, focus and creativity and meditate on how to accomplish certain looks and goals and shots,” says Quinn. “But you’re also trying to not die. All of us almost died at least once.”

To make Hundreds of Beavers, Mike spent years creating extensive storyboards and animatics. “People could watch the animatic on the DIT computer and they could also see the boards in my binders that I was carrying around,” he says.”But it still takes a lot of explaining and there’s a lot to wrap your head around because there’s so much in this movie. It is a lot. I was just thinking about it nonstop for years. And then just doing my best to explain it to the team. I was always surprised how much trust we got.” The film is very effects-heavy and made to look old-timey in grainy black and white. “The freedom of picking a grainy black and white style, it frees you up to tell a bigger story and to have bigger visual ideas. This style gave us permission to work that way in the modern day,” says Mike. Since they were shooting in the winter, they would have to wrap by 4:30 pm. Mike imported everything into Adobe After Effects and edited with Adobe Premiere every night. That way, Quinn and the crew knew exactly what they needed by the next day. Quinn shot on a Panasonic LUMIX GH5 camera that worked well even in extremely cold weather. All the footage could easily be imported into Adobe Premiere and After Effects.

Hundreds of Beavers is still playing in select theaters and is tons of fun to see with a live audience. Go to the Hundreds of Beavers website to find cities where it’s playing. https://www.hundredsofbeavers.com/

Hundreds of Beavers is also available to rent on Amazon and Apple.

Find Mike Cheslik: Instagram @mikeches

Find Quinn Hester: Instagram @quinn.hester

Sponsored by Hot Rod Cameras www.hotrodcameras.com

The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com
Facebook: @cinepod
Instagram: @thecinepod
Twitter: @ShortEndz