December 22, 2024
Shot Talk – Nickel Boys with DP Jomo Fray
Summary
In this episode of Shot Talk, Lawrence Sher, ASC sits down with cinematographer Jomo Fray for an in-depth conversation about his award-nominated work on the historical drama Nickel Boys.
From discussing how he and director RaMell Ross discovered the look and style of the film, to the difficulties of filming an entire film in first-person perspective, Jomo offers an insider’s look at the creative journey he went on to bring this emotional film to life.
This episode of Shot Talk is sponsored by SONY, a leading manufacturer of digital cinema cameras, including the brand’s flagship VENICE 2.
Key moments
- 00:00:32 What Makes This Film One of a Kind
- 00:02:13 Jomo’s Connection to Hale County, RaMell Ross’ First Film
- 00:06:48 Why This Script Was Unlike Anything Jomo Had Read Before
- 00:07:37 Shooting First Person: Puncturing the Membrane
- 00:12:12 Why 1.33? The Power of Constraining the Frame
- 00:14:20 Conjuring the Feeling of Sight
- 00:16:43 Lessons From Ed Lachman: Shooting Emotion in Carol
- 00:18:00 Steadicam vs. Handheld
- 00:20:30 Scene Breakdown: The Physics of a Human Body
- 00:23:30 The Opening Hand Shot & Tricking the Audience
- 00:26:34 Living With Real Doubt on Set
- 00:29:58 The Take That Made Everyone Stop & Stare
- 00:36:37 Why Jomo Used Panavision VA Prime Lenses
- 00:40:52 The 40mm Hero Lens
- 00:42:30 Jazz, Anchor Points & the Shot List as a Song
- 00:44:22 Rehearsal Process
- 00:46:16 Three Operators With One Camera
- 00:50:25 No Marks. No Safety Net. Just Trust.
- 00:55:07 Tearing Apart a Period Bus for One Shot
- 00:56:54 Hiding the Camera: Reflections, Irons & Composites
- 01:02:31 Polarizers, 18Ks & Shooting at Exactly the Right Moment
- 01:09:12 References & Prep for Nickel Boys
- 01:14:53 The Third Perspective Snorricam
- 01:20:48 A 15 Minute Take That Hit Like a Gut Punch
- 01:26:40 Building a Digital Film Stock From Scratch
- 01:31:16 Why Sunlight Beats Every Light You Own
- 01:39:16 Closing: Finding Humanity in Images
