December 22, 2023
Shot Talk – American Fiction with DP Cristina Dunlap
Summary
Lawrence Sher, ASC sits down with Cristina Dunlap for an in-depth discussion of her critically-acclaimed new film American Fiction. From the logistics of filming a feature film in under 30 days to how Cristina started her career, the two break down important moments behind the scenes of production that helped bring the film to life!
Key moments
- 00:01:13 How Cristina Met Director Cord Jefferson
- 00:03:37 Preparing the Look Book and Creating a Cohesive Language
- 00:05:03 Building a Visual Identity With the Director
- 00:06:55 The Importance of Visual References to Communicate Ideas
- 00:09:08 Shooting on Location With a Tight Schedule
- 00:11:05 Capturing a State of Mind on the Screen
- 00:12:33 What to Look for in a Practical Location
- 00:15:44 Managing Contrast Between Windows and a Dark Interior
- 00:16:44 Choosing an Aspect Ratio and How It Influences the Shooting Strategy
- 00:18:16 The Importance of Character Introductions
- 00:21:13 Finding a Visual Metaphor for the Film
- 00:22:02 Using a Process Trailer for Driving Scenes
- 00:24:05 Choosing the Right Lenses for the Job, the Blackwing Tribe 7
- 00:25:50 How They Shot the Film in 26 Days
- 00:27:33 Using The Lighthouse for Lighting Motivation on The Beach Walk
- 00:29:00 Choosing the Right Steadicam
- 00:32:04 Shooting the Final Scene on a Studio Lot
- 00:32:58 The Road to Becoming a Cinematographer
- 00:38:11 Moving From Commercial and Music Videos to Feature Films
- 00:40:03 The Importance of Building Relationships
- 00:42:09 The Script That Changed Cristina’s Life
- 00:43:26 Lighting The Harvard Club With Balloons
- 00:46:01 Managing the Tone of the Film and Relatable Characters
- 00:50:09 Use Challenges to Find New Narrative Opportunities
- 00:51:47 Final Thoughts
