MovieChat Forums > Café Society (2016) Discussion > Some questions about the cinematography

Some questions about the cinematography

posted 9 years ago by haasing1986
16 replies | jump to latest

This is the first time Woody Allen has worked in digital. I guess some people are surprised because he sometimes comes across as an artist stuck in the past but I think it makes sense as he likes to shoot quickly and cheaply (he knocks out a a film every year). How do you feel about this?

I think Woody leans heavily on his cinematographers for the look of his films and this makes sense as he has worked with a murderers' row of talent in the past. But I have not heard of any of the films Vittorio Storaro has made since Bulworth. Is he still regarded highly? What should I expect?

Thanks

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cinematographer-vittorio-storaro-how-he-842155

[–] arolfilmfan 9 years ago

This is a great look at him and the film:

http://www.filmanddigitaltimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/75FDTimes-Storaro-PassageToDigital.pdf

[–] haasing1986 9 years ago

Thank you

[–] tommyjonzie 9 years ago

Great article. It will enhance my interest in the film.

[–] Super68 9 years ago

You mean videography, not cinematography.

It's time for a backlash against digital photography, motion pictures, music, sfx

[–] Johanes_Calvi 9 years ago

Cinematography -- (from Greek: κίνημα, kinema "movements" and γράφειν, graphein "to record") is the science or art of motion-picture photography by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as film stock. -- That's from google. Very simple concept right?

Why is cinematography if it's shot on film, and not if it's shot on digital? Where in the word CINEMATOGRAPHY does it say that only celluloid can be used?

[–] Super68 9 years ago

Yeah the image sensor part was probably put in by the digital video morons. At any rate, why do people use the term videography then? Cinematography is film, video is not cinematography. That's how I see it.

It's time for a backlash against digital photography, motion pictures, music, sfx

[–] haasing1986 9 years ago

I think nomenclature is important and agree that with digital the cinematographer's role changes dramatically.

However there are some problems with videography as:
a) it might refer to video tape which this is not shot on.
b) I shoot on video.
c) the word videographer sounds a little hacky (this has a lot to do with b).

I know it's an ugly and awkward compromise Super68 but I think "Digital Cinematographer" and "Digital Cinematography" might be a fair compromise. It allows some continuity to the past while addressing the fact that the role of the cinematographer has changed dramatically in the digital age.

I only titled the post "cinematography" as Storaro is listed on IMDB as the cinematographer.

[–] Super68 9 years ago

I think video refers to the electronic capture of moving images, so even if it's captured on flash memory, recordable optical disc, or a hard drive, it's still video.

I could tolerate "Digital Cinemotography" to mark it as different from traditional film cinematography.

It's time for a backlash against digital photography, motion pictures, music, sfx

[–] Johanes_Calvi 9 years ago

Then you see it wrong. The word "Cinematography" doesn't refer to the medium you use to capture your images. Google the word for Christ's sake. Look it up. See where the word derives from and what it means.

[–] Super68 9 years ago

I know what the definition is. I don't care.

It's time for a backlash against digital photography, motion pictures, music, sfx

[–] jmillerdp 9 years ago

If Storaro, easily one of the all-time greatest cinematographers is shooting it, it's cinematography. That's how I see it. 

I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

[–] jfortier13 9 years ago

Almost all movies today are shot digitally, except for the purist directors who insist that film looks better than digitally shot. They would have been right a few years ago, but as technology advances, there are no discernible differences IMO. Vittorio is an absolute legend. Just watching the trailer shows that!

[–] Super68 9 years ago

Video is so plasticky. And there are other reasons film is superior to video that video will never match.

It's time for a backlash against digital photography, motion pictures, music, sfx

[–] haasing1986 9 years ago

You cannot be certain that video will never match or even surpass film. As a technology it's still in its infancy.

It might be worse right now - to be honest I can't always tell.

What I can say is that the success rate of movies shot on film (at least for me) has been far higher than those shot digitally.

Film is more expensive and more difficult, so most of the directors who use film seem to be far more intentional and purposeful about the look of their films than those who shoot digitally.

Using film is the mark of someone making the extra effort to achieve their artistic ambition and that's probably why they stand out.

Not all movies shot on digital look bad but most movies shot on film do look better.

Both formats serve their purpose, and I really don't think shooting on film would do much for an Adam Sandler comedy.

For a period piece about Hollywood in the 1930s I think it would have made sense to shoot on film. However, Woody tends to hire great cinematographers and lean heavily on them for the visual aspects his films. Storaro thought digital would work best.

Weird side note. I don't really know the difference between the different film types (35mm, 70 mm and 16mm) but two of the prettiest films I've seen in the last couple of years were shot on 16mm [Carol & Moonrise Kingdom] which according to wikipedia is used for non-theatrical or low budget film making.

[–] haasing1986 9 years ago

“Café Society” marks their first full-length collaboration, and the result is ravishing to behold—more so, I think, than any Allen picture since Gordon Willis filmed “Manhattan” in black-and-white. - Anthony Lane

[–] yesanything 8 years ago

Digital does not bother me. But his use of green screen is unforgivable!!!!

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