Cinematography

The place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on all things lighting, framing, cameras, lenses and technique

Geoff Hall
Science + Media Museum - and why 70mm is the Reel Deal

Although this article dates back to August 2023, I think it offers a great insight into the history and use of 70mm film.

As discussed with Sam Sokolow on another thread in the Post-Production Lounge, my first experience of a 70mm film was at the Odeon Cinema in Hartlepool. My Dad took me to see the...

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The reel deal? Why you should watch Oppenheimer on 70mm
The reel deal? Why you should watch Oppenheimer on 70mm
With Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer sparking discussion about the benefits of 70mm film this summer, Jack from our screen team looks at what's so special about the format.
Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for sharing, Geoff Hall. It's a great breakdown of the 70mm format. I haven't heard a lot about 70mm. I usually hear about 35mm and digital. I plan on watching "Oppenheimer" before Stage 32's u...

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Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan Oppenheimer is a very special film. Be prepared to be wowed by a cast of great actors!

Maurice Vaughan

The promo I've seen look stunning, Geoff Hall. I might watch the movie first for enjoyment, then watch it again along with the script.

Dustin Richardson

That's fascinating, Geoff Hall. Great share.

Sam Sokolow

Great share, Geoff Hall - Yes! I love 70MM films and go every chance I get. Seeing 2001 when it was released is beyond amazing!

Ashley Renee Smith
Stage 32's April 2024 Education Schedule!

Our tireless Stage 32 Education Team has been hard at work to bring in some incredible education opportunities for April! In today's blog, read all about the exclusive webinars, classes, and labs currently available to Stage 32 members!

Including an Intro to Cinematography Webinar being taught by Dir...

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Maurice Vaughan

I'm a movie lover too, John January Noble. Originals or remakes. I like remakes because I get to see what old movies look like in modern time.

E Langley

Big fan of the original. This rock 'em, sock 'em remake did it justice. Switch-off-brain fun.

Dustin Richardson

Wow. That's interesting.

Emily J

I'm with you E Langley! Not all remakes are worthwhile but I appreciate that when the remake knows what was great about the original (that 'switch off brain fun' lol). I definitely think this could've...

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Ashley Renee Smith

The original was one of my mom's all-time favorites. So I'm excited to watch this new one. She would have loved getting to experience another film in that world, even if it's not a perfect remake. So I'm going to try to do the same. =)

Göran Johansson
Filming when the sun is low

I am new here.

Do you like to film outdoors when the sun is low over the horizon? I mean, when the sky is deep blue.

As an astronomer, I know that the longer from the equator you move, the longer the sun remains low over the horizon.

The best place in the world should be the northern part of the Nor...

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Geoff Hall

Göran Johansson I would love the opportunity to film in Scandinavia and have long been an admirer of Scandi-Noir. What’s your favourite film or TV Series produced there?...

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Göran Johansson

Dear Sam, nice that you like the far north. My research field is ancient astronomy. So I have thought about creating something similar to "the Da Vinci code". For example. And I have multiple ideas fo...

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Geoff Hall

Göran Johansson I can't wait for you to post something about that on the screenwriting lounge. Write about what you love and it seems you are doing that.

We are selective in what we watch. Many Britis...

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Amanda Toney

Goram - I’d also recommend Estonia right nearby. They have incredible filming infrastructure and they offer decent tax incentives at 30% - https://filmestonia.eu/

Göran Johansson

Amanda, I understand what you mean, Sweden's tax incentive is 25 %, and bureaucratic.

Ashley Renee Smith
The Tech Behind IMAX!

The Wall Street Journal put together this great in-depth look at the projectors, cameras, and other tech behind IMAX movies, to better explain why it's such an expensive process. The company is currently developing a new film camera that they hope will be ready in the next couple of years.

https://w...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Me too, Sam Sokolow! It's going to be really interesting.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for sharing, Ashley Renee Smith. No wonder IMAX is such an expensive process! I think the new IMAX camera is gonna be a game changer for filmmakers and cinematographers.

Gareth Taylor

Thanks for sharing Ashley Renee Smith . IMAX is a magical and complex beast of its own. I love it. More options for filmmakers to tell stories. Except this one is only available to the few productions...

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Dustin Richardson

Wow. That's cool, Ashley Renee Smith. IMAX is such a special way to experience film. I've only seen one film in IMAX before, but it was one of the best experiences I've had at the movies. I loved hear...

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Ashley Renee Smith

It's definitely wild, Dustin Richardson!!

Sam Rivera
Favorite Scenes or Shots in Film?

I love seeing what others consider their favorite scene or shot in a film, whether it was a technical aspect or a visual aspect, I'm curious to know!

Sam Sokolow

So many to choose from... hard to beat the opening shot of Orson Wells' A Touch Of Evil. Or any shot in Mad Max: Fury Road. Birdman was so groundbreaking. And totally down with Ashley Renee Smith on t...

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Debbie Croysdale

@Sam I’m a fan of Vintage Noir black & white with dream sequences, odd or distorted camera pans & bold visceral close ups on innermost sanctum of character. Vertigo/The Third Man/Casablanca. Hall of m...

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Sam Sokolow

Debbie Croysdale - love so many of the films you mentioned!

Tucker Teague
So what about those aspect ratios...?

Somewhere around 1980 my family got a VHS video player/recorder. Near us was a video store called Flicks & Pics that soon became one of the best on the west coast. I rented thousands of movies from there over a number of years, especially as I became aware of both film history and world cinema. I sa...

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Maurice Vaughan

Incredible share, Tucker Teague! I never knew ratios were such a big part of filmmaking and cinematography.

Sam Sokolow

Great share, Tucker Teague. Fascinating to hear this perspective from side of such great filmmakers.

Geoff Hall

Tucker Teague I love this share, Tucker. When I visited the US, an American friend of mine, many years ago, he joked that NTSC stood for Never The Same Colour!

I love the fact that James Cameron think...

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Erik Baczay
What's your current go to all general lighting kit.

Hi all,

Recently, I have been slowly upgrading my lighting kit. I am currently researching and looking for advice on building a good and solid general lighting kit for small indie features, documentary shoots, and occasional corporate shoots.

Ashley Renee Smith

Erik Baczay, I recently saw this video praising this newer brand's unique kit and it seems like a pretty great choice for an all-around on the go option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdiGmnQDb_s...

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Sam Sokolow

I still like the kits that Lowel makes for indie interior shoots but they're "classic" bulb kits -- if I was starting over I would build an LED kit. - GVM and Nanlite have some great lights for indie filmmaking.

Maurice Vaughan
Coffee & Content: How Money Changed America’s Biggest Awards

Stage 32’s founder and CEO, Richard “RB” Botto, shares two videos in today’s blog.

In the first video, you’ll learn about the finances that go into marketing a project in hopes of winning an Academy Award.

In the second video, “Ferrari” cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt breaks down how he worked on...

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Nick Phillips
SXSW DP's Talk About Their Work...
SXSW 2024: How 41 Cinematographers Shot Their Narrative Features
SXSW 2024: How 41 Cinematographers Shot Their Narrative Features
The cinematographers of Road House, Immaculate, The Idea of You, and more share the cameras they used to capture the movies they filmed.
Maurice Vaughan

Wow! An incredible article for DPs to study! Thanks for sharing, Nick Phillips.

Ashley Renee Smith

Loved this article, thank you Nick Phillips!

Tucker Teague
Shooting on iPhone is only for amateurs, right? Wrong! (but you knew that)

The following video shows how one highly accomplished cinematographer gets fantastic images while shooting on an iPhone. But there's a lot more is this video than just that. Lots of valuable info and wisdom from masters of their craft.

https://youtu.be/yFbz1h29sE4?si=zpI1DYKenpA-enOr...

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Maurice Vaughan

Great share, Tucker Teague! They kept talking about lighting in the video. I hear a lot of directors and DPs talk about lighting. It seems like lighting is really important no matter what camera is us...

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Tucker Teague

Maurice Vaughan I learned a long time ago that if one focuses on lighting, people will say, "Amazing shots, what camera did you use?"

Ashley Renee Smith
Nikon Acquires RED?!

Crazy news! RED will now be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nikon. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

https://www.newsshooter.com/2024/03/06/nikon-acquires-red/

Nikon acquires RED - Newsshooter
Nikon acquires RED - Newsshooter
Nikon has acquired RED which I don't think anyone saw coming. I always thought that RED might eventually be sold to another company, but being
Jed Power

What uis Red?

Ashley Renee Smith

Hahaha, I love "Nikonian" Gareth Taylor.

Ashley Renee Smith

Jed Power, RED is a very popular and established cinema camera company.

Tucker Teague

I take this as welcome, or at least very interesting, news. My wife and I have been shooting still photography with Nikon for decades. I love the brand. My hope is this means Nikon has hopes of becoming a big player in the feature film cinematography space.

Pat Savage

Another small but mighty fish gets swallowed by the giants. Should be a good connection if done correctly.

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