Comments on: The #1 Job of a Cinematographer

By: ken

ken — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 03:13:00 +0000

hi all i have questins

What are the parameters that a cinematographer applies when planning out where to place the key light for a specific scene

[email protected]

thank you so much for answering
best regards
ken

By: John thomas

John thomas — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 09:08:00 +0000

Unfortunately the video the article is based on says exactly the opposite of what the article says. Which was my point. Seriously watch the whole thing and see what the best DP’S in the business have to say about their role with directors. They all keep saying it’s the dp’s job to tell the director NO! What do you think the DP does? It use to be against union rules for a DP to operate a camera. So what did they do? Why do they have Director in their title? Just curious.

By: John thomas

John thomas — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 09:04:00 +0000

Actually I have shot 3 features now. I have been on 450 sets. I have worked with legendary directors and DP’S. New directors and the occasional control freak are the only directors that ever tried to tell me how to do my job or anyone else’s. A good director collaborates and knows their not a cinematographer.

I have directed many shirt films, many music videos, and many commercials. I have never had a problem with my DPs. As a DP I have only had a few 1st time directors tell me what lens, support, or even move to use and when their wrong I tell them. They always over rule me and they have every time came back to me and asked how I knew it would not work the way they wanted.

It’s a collaboration plain and simple. Your obsession with making director out to be the only creator on a movie is the real issue. If all the ASC cinematographers say the same thing I am saying you may want to rethink your argument. Clearly you have some insecurity about maintaining control over “your” movie. I would suggest you never direct television, commercials, or even a label music video. You will have a new reality given to you quickly.

By: John thomas

John thomas — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 08:46:00 +0000

Coppola thinks an iphone is better than film and a GH2 has a superior image to an Alexa and Epic. So his visual style sure didn’t come from him. In fact it’s well documented that he didn’t come up with the visual style.

Soderberg and Rodriguez are both DP and Editors on their movies. Coppola is not even capable of comparing the quality of film to that of the IPhone 4. So there is that.

By: Dion Guess

Dion Guess — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:18:00 +0000

Exactly ocube. You are devaluing the role of the Director John Thomas. Look at all of the statements that you made, and then you have the gall to say, “I don’t think anyone is devaluing the role of a director. Just defining the relationship between a dp and director.” What??? You are so full of it. Again, you have the gall to right all of that crap, and then try to twist what you said around. What a bare faced LIAR!!!

By: Dion Guess

Dion Guess — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:13:00 +0000

“The cult of the director gets so much credit for things they merely approved.” Your life must be so sad and depressing John Thomas. it must be tough getting to sleep while you think about all of the credit the Director gets. Maybe you should start Directing, (if you can handle it) Directing may make you a happy man. All i see is a miserable defeated jealous of the Director man!!!

By: Dion Guess

Dion Guess — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:09:00 +0000

O.K. then, so Coppola doesn’t know anything, it’s all the D.P. and Soderberg and Rodriguez are better Directors than Coppola. I think that it’s time for you to go and smoke a few more reefers…

By: Dion Guess

Dion Guess — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 05:06:00 +0000

Also, did the article say that the Director should exist in a vacuum??? This is a great article, and everything that was said in this article is true!!!