Team Deakins

EPISODE 77 - ED LACHMAN - Cinematographer

Team Deakins has a great conversation with Cinematographer, Ed Lachman (CAROL, FAR FROM HEAVEN, DARK WATERS). We talk about many things, including his working with Robby Mueller and what he learned from him, his feeling on operating the camera, and finding your language with the director. He also shares his working process with director Todd Haynes, with whom he has collaborated many times. We go into depth on the movie "Far from Heaven" (one of his collaborations with Todd) from finding the look, the inspiration from Douglas Sirk films, and the use of colors. We also touch on the differences in using gels with film & with digital, his choice of lens, getting the look he wanted in "Dark Waters" and working with Paul Schrader. And much, much more!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: Far From Heaven

EPISODE 76 - MIKE LEIGH & DICK POPE - Director & Cinematographer

Team Deakins has the pleasure of sitting down with the long time collaborative team of Mike Leigh and Dick Pope (MR. TURNER, NAKED, SECRETS & LIES). What a great conversation! Mike shares with us his method of working and delineates the difference between his work and that of the directors John Cassavetes and Ken Loach. We learn the importance of having the right location and being able to return to the location during the course of the shoot. As the film is an "ongoing investigation" of what it will be according to Mike, Dick shares how amazing the experience is when he sees the blocked scene play out on location for the first time. Mike speaks on his way of working with actors. We also learn why on the film Peterloo, which involved a lot of scenes with a lot of extras and battles, they chose not to do storyboards. Both Mike and Dick talk about the specifics of their collaboration and how it has strengthened over years. A fascinating look into a very special relationship between a director and cinematographer.

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: Secrets and Lies

EPISODE 75 - JOHN WELLS - Director, Producer, Showrunner

Team Deakins has a great conversation with John Wells, a director, producer and showrunner of such television as ER, WEST WING, THIRD WATCH, SOUTHLAND, and SHAMELESS. John spells out the responsibilities of the position of showrunner on television, and we get to ask all the questions for which we've always wanted to know the answer! We learned a lot about the process in television series - how far in advance the scripts are done, the actors' ownership of their role, the importance of cinematographers in episodic TV. We also learned how much of the story is known at the start of the season and how the scripts change during the season. John also gives a thoughtful opinion on the effect of streaming on future moviemaking. We talk about writing a villain successfully, ensemble movies, and much, much more! Don't miss this episode!

EPISODE 74 - ADAM ARKAPAW - Cinematographer

Team Deakins catches up with cinematographer Adam Arkapaw (ANIMAL KINGDOM, ASSASSIN'S CREED, TRUE DETECTIVE). We learn a lot about the Australian film Animal Kingdom and how it was shot. Adam also tells us what he does during prep, how he works with a production designer and how he likes to give space to the actors. He also talked about something Andrew Lesnie once said to him and how it affected him. We also speak about how he chooses his projects, and his experiences on Macbeth, The King and True Detective. He shares his experiences in television and compared it to his film work. A fun episode with lots in it!

EPISODE 73 - ROB HARDY - Cinematographer

Team Deakins sits down with English cinematographer, Rob Hardy for a great, in-depth conversation. We cover many subjects, including his work on BOY A with John Crowley, the experience of the movie, RED RIDING with Michael Winterbottom, and his frequent collaboration with Alex Garland on the films EX MACHINA andANNIHILATION. He also talks about working with a Steadicam, operating the camera, mixing light sources and his choice of lenses per project. We even get into his experience on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. And we don't forget to talk about the series DEVs. It's a special inside look at how he works and thinks. You don't want to miss it!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: Boy A, Devs, Ex Machina

EPISODE 72 - "BIGGLES" (JOHN HIGGINS) - Gaffer

Team Deakins sits down with Biggles (John Higgins, if you want to be formal) an accomplished gaffer that Roger has a long past with. Biggles talks about working with Ozzie Morris and different lighting styles. We get into a discussion about brute arcs, what they are and the difference in the light they produce. Roger and Biggles reminisce on their experiences together on 1984, MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON, WHITE MISCHIEF and 1917. Biggles also shares some experiences with Chivo (GRAVITY and Sven Nykvist and Richard Attenborough (CHAPLIN) and talks about how he works with DPs and the importance of trust. Of course, we talk about the big lighting rig on 1917 as well as the scenes lit only by the character's torches (flashlights). We got into the subject of new technology in lighting and the importance of being realistic when choosing the lights to use for a project - if there are hostile conditions, far better to go with something dependable. A wide-reaching episode you won't want to miss!

EPISODE 71 - DEDE GARDNER - Co-President Plan B Entertainment

Teams Deakins speaks with Plan B co-president, Dede Gardner (IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, MOONLIGHT). We talk about the careful selection by Plan B of the projects they choose and how the company's goal is to protect the original intention of a film throughout the process. Dede tells us her process in choosing projects to back and that she chose to become a producer because it allowed her to spend the longest time on a project. We talk about the strange world we create when we shoot a movie and how each movie is a situation that doesn't repeat. She speaks at length on her working relationship with Jeremy Kleiner, Plan B's other co-president. We also covered the importance of recognizing when you are working on the wrong incarnation of a movie and the need to step back and start again. We also covered the movie Selma, working in television, balancing work and family, how important conviction and passion are and much more! So much information in one episode!!

EPISODE 70 - BARRY ACKROYD - Cinematographer

Team Deakins sits down with esteemed cinematographer, Barry Ackroyd (BOMBSHELL, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, THE HURT LOCKER). We covered many topics, including his work with the director Ken Loach and Ken's approach to moviemaking. We also learn about his work with Paul Greengrass and he tells us about how certain scenes were shot on United 93. Barry talks about lighting a space and how he enjoys limitations. We also talk about handheld operating and how he achieves what he does with a handheld camera and he shares his feelings about operating in general. He tells us how he chooses his projects, his thoughts on operating, his experience of working on Captain Phillips and his feelings about electronic viewfinders. A great conversation!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: United 93

EPISODE 69 - TURNING THE TABLES - No Country for Old Men

Team Deakins has the tables turned on them! Cinematographer Greig Fraser and actor Josh Brolin ask the questions in this episode. We covered a lot about the movie and looked in detail at seven scenes in the movie. The conversation also went in some unplanned areas - we learned, among other things, how Greig hates the script slug line "evening", what it was like working with Kelly McDonald, how important trust is when working on a film, and what the experience of shooting No Country for Old Men was like for Josh. Happy accidents, our favorite scene in the film, and the relationship between actor and DP were also talked about. And much, much more! There is a companion PDF for this episode that lists the clips we discussed and when they appear in the film. Don't miss this special episode - there's a lot in it. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF.

REQUIRED EPISODE VIEWING: No Country for Old Men

Episode 68 - ANTHONY DOD MANTLE - Cinematographer

Team Deakins talks to talented cinematographer, Anthony Dod Mantle (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, DOGVILLE, T2 TRAINSPOTTING). We cover many subjects, including his work in documentaries and political films, his experiences in India, how he started with still photography and why he moved to motion picture, and his early experiences of focus pulling. He tells us at length his involvement with dogma films and what that means and how he likes to start from a new place for each film. He breaks down a lot of the shooting in the movie "The Command" and gives us the tip of how where you put the focus helps greatly in marrying different formats. A fascinating discussion with a great cinematographer!

RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: The Command