The Cinematography Podcast Episode 320: Cinematographer Matt Ball

For cinematographer Matt Ball, shooting the National Geographic five part documentary series Tucci in Italy was a delightful experience. Tucci in Italy follows actor Stanley Tucci as he explores his Italian heritage, delving into regions rich in food and culture. “A big part of the success of the show is obviously Stan, but Stan wants to do it,” says Matt of Stanley Tucci. “Nobody necessarily loves getting up for work on a Monday morning. But getting up for work on a Monday morning in Italy and going to wonderful places, you know you're going to do something interesting. And it's the fact that people want to do it for their job that makes it so much easier.”

As a light-hearted, fun and engaging host, Tucci's fluency in Italian and passion for the culture drove him to explore lesser-known stories, foods, and areas of Italy. With 20 distinct regions, each person in Italy has a unique identity attached to their home. Matt's favorite location was the Carrera mountains in Tuscany, where the famous Carrera marble is mined. “The culture of Italy, I have such a deep love for that country from doing the show,” says Matt. “Everything about it, from the food to the scenery, everything affects you as you're doing it. I mean, some of it is mind-bogglingly beautiful.”

While Stanley Tucci himself didn't need a translator, the crew needed a little help. A translator spoke into an earpiece so the crew could follow the story closely and know what to capture. Matt used four cameras and a drone to capture the beauty of the region. To avoid asking subjects to repeat actions, one camera was always dedicated to shooting the food.

Scouting and pre-planning was key for the vision Matt had for the look of the show. Tucci in Italy is beautifully composed, without feeling formal, and uses very natural lighting. At each location, Matt and the director would take about 30 minutes to walk through the location to find the best spots for interviews, without compromising the story or the documentary nature. The most important goal was to make the interviewees feel at ease, with the cameras as unobtrusive as possible. Even if it meant shooting in a tiny, dark kitchen, the crew would do so to ensure the authenticity of the documentary. The Italians would also choose the right place to eat, usually out of the direct sun and in a comfortable situation. The hardest part of the job was often the heat, as much of the work was outdoors and shot handheld.

Find Matt Ball: https://mattballcamera.com/

Instagram: @mattbcam

Matt Ball has been nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program for Tucci in Italy for the “Tuscany” episode.

See Tucci in Italy on Nat Geo on Disney+. The series has been renewed for a second season.

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