Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art [Paperback]

Pauline B Rogers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240803094 | ISBN-13: 978-0240803098 | Publication Date: February 2, 1998 | Edition: 1

The twelve interviews in this book cover all aspects of cinematography from pre-production planning to post-production, special effects, aerial photography, and second unit. Each interview gives a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the most popular shots in movies and television shows were lit and captured.

Technically and philosophically oriented, Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art explores the tools, trends, personalities, and professional achievements of contemporary cinematographers, highlighting the behind-the-scenes struggles of the business of making motion pictures. Each chapter delves into the personal challenges, political properties, inter-departmental interactions, and artistic achievements of the artists who bring scripts to life through their choice of cameras, lights, lenses, filters, gels, and other supporting equipment.

Covering a variety of film and television genres--from soaps to half-hour sitcoms, to cable and network productions and low- and big-budget features--each interview explores the tools cinematographers use to capture their shots, from traditional equipment to innovative camera and lighting "toys," as well as the integration of mechanical and computer graphic effects.

Interviews with prominent, award-winning cinematographers
Insight into some of the most popular and innovative movies today
Covers all aspects of cinematography, including post-production and special effects

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Technically and philosophically oriented, Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art explores the tools, trends, personalities, and professional achievements of contemporary cinematographers, highlighting the behind-the-scenes struggles of the business of making motion pictures. Each chapter delves into the personal challenges, political properties, inter-departmental interactions, and artistic achievements of the artists who bring scripts to life through their choice of cameras, lights, lenses, filters, gels, and other supporting equipment. Covering a variety of film and television genres, each interview explores the tools cinematographers use to capture their shots, from traditional equipment to innovative camera and lighting "toys," as well as the integration of mechanical and computer graphic effects.

About the Author

A staff writer at the International Cinematographer Magazine, a trade magazine published by the union of cinematographers Local 600 IATSE in LA, Pauline B. Rogers has published 1200 plus articles and three books (Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art, More Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art, The Art of Visual Effects) on the entertainment industry. One of the acknowledged experts on how movies are made, she often enjoys access to virtually closed sets and has been able to procure interviews with difficult to reach top of the list entertainment professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (February 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240803094
• ISBN-13: 978-0240803098
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,179,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The mix is good., July 9, 2001

By 

Philip T Burchell (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art (Paperback)

This book attempts to redress the fact that cinematographers tend to be underrated, even invisible, in the making of films. Even though they are "below-the-line" contractors (they don't participate in the profits of the project), the DP is responsible for the entire look of the show. Rarely are they acknowledged, let alone celebrated alongside Directors or Actors.

Author Pauline Rogers has been a staff writer for International Cinematographer, the monthly magazine of the IATSE local 600 Guild, for over 10 years and as such has enjoyed access to many sets and conversations with many cinematographers. This then is a distillation of her work, containing thirteen in-depth interviews with individual DP's.

Feature Film DP's Dean Cundey (Apollo 13), Donald Burgess (Forest Gump), Roger Deakins (Fargo), Stephen Goldblatt (Batman and Robin), Emmanuel Lubezki (The Birdcage) and Thomas Ackerman (Jumanji), join TV DP's John Bartley (X-Files), Jo Mayer (Good Morning America), Donald A. Morgan (Home Improvement) and Donald M. Morgan (Geronimo), and SFX DP Dennis Muren (Star Wars), Aerial DP David Nowell (Jurassic Park) and Music Video DP Salvatore Totino.

The mix is good. I've read a lot about feature film guys, perhaps most notably in the 1984 book "Masters of Light", but little of contemporary shooters and even less from those working in TV or second-unit and special effects. All have interesting stories of how they got their career breaks and moved up through the ranks, telling interesting anecdotes on how the industry has changed as they go. Many offer technical tips, along with "how we did it" notes from their projects.

If you like reading technical "behind-the-scenes" interviews such as those found in the cinematography magazines, if you like photography and film-making in general, you'll like this book. If there is one coda (and why I give it 4 out of 5 stars), it is that the book seems to have been sloppily edited. This is perhaps understandable given that these are interviews assembled from a number of sessions, probably casual conversations recorded on tape, and which haven't made the translation to print quite as well as they might have. Still, this is a minor point ... both this and the follow-up second book are well worth the cheap price.