March 3, 2023

Shot Talk – All Quiet on the Western Front with DP James Friend, ASC, BSC

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Summary

Lawrence Sher, ASC sits down with DP James Friend, ASC, BSC for an in-depth discussion of his new Netflix war epic All Quiet on the Western Front. From the logistics of filming battle sequences, to the importance of lens choices, James breaks down important moments behind the scenes of production that helped bring the story to life.

Key moments

  • 00:01:17 The Influence of Cinema in the Youth and the Path Toward Becoming a Filmmaker
  • 00:10:57 Working with Edward Berger
  • 00:13:51 The Beginning of All Quiet on the Western Front
  • 00:15:20 Making a Film in a Foreign Language
  • 00:19:00 The First Day of Filming in the Trenches
  • 00:20:33 Shooting Super Wide Lenses for the Alexa 65
  • 00:22:04 How the Joker Mixed Set of Lenses Inspired James’ Set
  • 00:23:59 The Tribe7: The Hero Lens Set
  • 00:26:09 Choosing to Shoot in Large Format
  • 00:27:40 Scene Breakdown: Meeting the Recruits
  • 00:31:33 Planning Your Days and Shooting Efficiently
  • 00:34:03 Shotlisting the Entire Film and Adapting to Locations
  • 00:35:34 Shooting the Battle Scenes
  • 00:38:56 How to Make a Real Life Location Work for Production
  • 00:41:49 Planning the Shots and Movements Beforehand
  • 00:43:35 Scene Breakdown: Running Through the Battlefield
  • 00:45:08 Shooting with 400 Extras
  • 00:46:54 Why the Stabilizer Was the Right Tool for the Job
  • 00:49:33 The Language of Camera Movement
  • 00:52:04 No Wrong or Right Decision, Just a Matter of Taste
  • 00:53:16 The Transport Vehicles and Shooting in Low Light
  • 00:56:17 Using Poor Man’s Process for the Truck Sequence
  • 00:57:52 Avoiding Focus Racks
  • 01:02:10 Shooting 65mm and “Conservative” Stops
  • 01:03:25 The Challenges of Shooting in Historical Buildings
  • 01:05:58 Using the 18.5mm Lens on Candle Light for the Dinner Scene
  • 01:09:04 Looking Back on the Film
  • 01:10:31 Camera Test Footage That Made the Final Cut
  • 01:13:46 Happy Accidents: Falling in Love with the Snow
  • 01:16:50 The Overwhelming Experience of Being Nominated for Awards
  • 01:22:36 Final Thoughts
Where to watch

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