The Cinematography Podcast Episode 349: James Whitaker, ASC

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die DP James Whitaker, ASC played with different genres, with over 70 setups a day in the Norm's diner set. He used LED walls and projectors to cast real, interactive light on the characters in the film’s climax, and swapped to a different camera system for certain scenes to play up the glow of cell phones.

Key Podcast Highlights:

-Shooting the opening sequence of the film in a set replica of Norm’s Diner

-How director Gore Verbinski’s complex, hand-drawn storyboards allowed the crew to maintain a "ballet-like" precision during Rockwell's complex physical performances.

-Using LED walls and projectors to cast real, interactive light on the characters in the film’s climax

-Swapping to a Sony Venice 2 when the cell phone light source wasn’t strong enough in some scenes

Find James Whitaker: Instagram @jameswhitaker_dop

See Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die in theaters

See James' most recent series, DTF St. Louis, on HBO Max

See Patriot on Amazon Prime

Hear our recent interview with Nicole Whitaker: https://www.camnoir.com/ep338/

SHOW RUNDOWN:

02:05 Close Focus

12:14-01:00:49 James Whitaker Interview

01:01:30 Short ends

01:06:46 Wrap up/Credits

The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com

YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast

Facebook: @cinepod

Instagram: @thecinepod

Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social