June 16, 2026
Shot Talk – Wonder Man: Season 1 with DP Brett Pawlak
Summary
In this episode of Shot Talk, Patrick Cady, ASC sits down with DP Brett Pawlak for an in depth conversation about his work on Marvel’s hit Disney+ series Wonder Man.
Brett shares how the team approached large scale stunt sequences on location in Los Angeles, shaped the look and style of an “anti Marvel” Marvel show, and navigated unexpected production delays. Watch as he breaks down the key creative and logistical decisions that helped bring the series to life.
Key moments
- 00:00:50 Making a Character Driven and Grounded Superhero Show
- 00:02:58 Creating a Unique Look for a Marvel Show
- 00:04:07 What Brett Pawlak Brought from Indie Filmmaking
- 00:07:15 Choosing Authenticity Over the Marvel Machine
- 00:09:15 Scene Breakdown: Chase Around Ventura
- 00:11:25 Framing to Create a Bigger Scope
- 00:13:04 Balancing the Light When Filming Interior/Exterior Cars
- 00:15:12 Shooting Alexa 35 and the HDR Workflow on Set
- 00:18:55 Using False Color and EL Cine to Match Coverage
- 00:20:18 Building the Look Into the LUT
- 00:29:05 How Early PTA Films Were a Reference for Camera Movement
- 00:32:38 Storyboarding on Set and Finding the Inspirations for Shots
- 00:36:50 Using Panavision T-Series Anamorphics
- 00:43:57 Scene Breakdown: The Apartment Phone Call; Using Practical Lighting
- 00:46:14 Improvising on Set
- 00:49:15 The Aftermath of the Strikes in 2023
- 00:52:27 Scene Breakdown: The Dinner Conversation; Why Anamorphics Feel More Intimate
- 00:55:40 Choosing Lenses for Emotional Feel
- 01:03:53 Trusting Your Collaborators
- 01:11:07 Shooting Anamorphic in Tight Spaces and Collaborating with Production Design
- 01:16:00 Shooting Cross Coverage and Protecting the Performance
- 01:18:40 Staying True to Your Aesthetic on a Marvel Show
