Panavision

Creating the Palette of Palm Royale

Mon, 05/27/2024 - 10:27 -- Nick Dager

Created by showrunner Abe Sylvia, the Apple TV+ comedic drama Palm Royale navigates the tale of one woman's ambitious journey to make it among the upper crust, through extravagant settings that evoke the golden era of Life magazine. Cinematographer David Lanzenberg was behind the camera for the first two episodes, working with director Tate Taylor, and then passed the baton to fellow director of photography Todd McMullen, who shot the remaining eight episodes. With support from Panavision Woodland Hills, the cinematographers opted to pair Panaspeed large-format spherical primes with the Millennium DXL2 camera. Here, the collaborators highlight how the series’ visual language was distinctly enhanced by the choices made by the art, wardrobe, and hair & make-up departments.

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A Spirit Between Worlds

Mon, 04/22/2024 - 10:50 -- Nick Dager

Directed by Héléna Klotz, La Vénus d'argent (aka Spirit of Ecstasy) tells the story of Jeanne Francoeur (played by Claire Pommet), a young woman striving to escape the circumstances of her birth by morphing into a silent predator in the world of investment banking. Working with Panavision Paris, cinematographer Victor Seguin, AFC employed PVintage and Primo 70 lenses and a Panavised Sony Venice camera to help visualize Jeanne’s contrasting environments. Here, Seguin shares his experiences collaborating with Klotz and finding a unique look for each of Jeanne's worlds.

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The Authentic Artificiality of Barbie

Mon, 11/27/2023 - 09:50 -- Nick Dager

To make a movie based on one of world’s most famous toy brands is to venture into a particularly public arena, where everyone has at least a passing familiarity and expects a certain recognizability. In bringing Barbie to the big screen, director Greta Gerwig and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC therefore had to find the right balance between the authentic and the inventive. Working with an inspired script by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, larger-than-life production design by Sarah Greenwood, and Panavision System 65 large-format spherical optics, Prieto helped realize a world that’s been welcomed by fans and newcomers alike, inviting one and all to participate in the fun and share in the joy. Gerwig has called the look of the film “authentic artificiality.” Here, Pietro speaks about his experiences in Barbieland and beyond.

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Filming Winning Time: A Conversation

Wed, 09/06/2023 - 16:02 -- Nick Dager

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty is back for its second season on HBO, pushing deeper into the 1980s as it continues to recount the on- and off-court stories surrounding the Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers. After sharing cinematography duties with Mihai Malaimare Jr. on Season 1, Todd Banhazl, ASC returned for Season 2, now joined by fellow cinematographers John Matysiak, Ricardo Diaz and Darran Tiernan, ISC.

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Seeing Red

Mon, 05/22/2023 - 10:49 -- Nick Dager

Director David Cronenberg’s 1988 horror film Dead Ringers, about twin OBGYNs whose penchant for tricking others threatens to shatter their own psyches, has received a sibling of its own with the six-episode Amazon miniseries of the same name. Starring Rachel Weisz as twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle, the show tracks a similar descent into madness, but one that’s carefully distinguished as a complement to its predecessor. All throughout the series, the color red plays a key role.

Through Her Lens: A Conversation

Tue, 07/28/2020 - 11:57 -- Nick Dager

On July 14, Made In Her Image, Panavision, Light Iron and Lee Filters presented the virtual roundtable discussion “Through Her Lens: Creating a Truly Inclusive Film Industry.” Moderated by Made In Her Image founder Malakai and featuring cinematographers Mia Cioffi Henry, Melinda James, Kira Kelly, Cybel Martin, Keitumetse Mokhonwana and Sade Ndya, the conversation addressed inequities within the motion-picture industry through the lens of women of color behind the camera.

Shooting for the (Very) Small Screen

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 10:27 -- Nick Dager

Short-form streaming-video platform Quibi provides premium content specifically designed for consumption on a mobile device. This presented the production of its first scripted show, Dummy, with a unique set of creative and workflow issues. In addition to the standard 16:9 aspect ratio, director of photography Catherine Goldschmidt had to create visuals for a vertically oriented 9:16 presentation.

Panavision Unveils Millennium DXL 8K Camera

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 14:12 -- Nick Dager

Panavision has introduced the Millennium DXL Camera, developed through an unprecedented combination of three companies’ contributions: large format optics and modular accessories from Panavision, a brand new 8K sensor from Red Digital Cinema, and new color science and optimized workflow from Light Iron.

The Making of Some Special Lenses

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 15:47 -- Nick Dager

When J.J. Abrams and Dan Mindel, ASC, BSC took on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, they knew they were handling a cultural touchstone. As they did with Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, they wanted to respect the antecedent while making a great, entertaining film for today’s audiences. So when it came to choosing format, lenses and the right look, they began by researching how the original Star Wars films were made.

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