
The coming-of-age drama L' t ternit (released in the U.S. as Our Eternal Summer) marked the continuation of the collaboration between writer-director milie Aussel and cinematographer Mathieu Bertholet. Here, Bertholet offers his insights into the production for which he worked with Panavision Marseille to source his camera and optics package and recounts the career path that led to his current work as a director of photography.
Panavision: How did you become involved in the project?
Mathieu Bertholet: I met milie Aussel, the director, in 2013, for her short film project Petite blonde, which became our first collaboration. We worked together again for Ta bouche mon paradis, a short film made in collaboration with the ERAC [Cannes Regional School of Actors]. It was at this time that milie began to tell me about her feature film project, then titled To Die Young. We discussed the project regularly, I read the different versions of the script, and little by little, over the course of our discussions, the general idea of what the film could be, its atmospheres, its sets [came into focus]. In 2019, producer Thomas Ordonneau and Shellac Films decided to launch the preparation of the film, and I agreed to follow milie in this new adventure.
How would you describe the look of the project?
Bertholet: For this film, I wanted to move away from an image that is too naturalistic a look that is often applied to so-called realistic' cinema dealing with youth, adolescence and its emotions. For me, it was about giving the film a visual identity made up of colors and contrasts. Dealing with reality, of course, but magnifying it in one way or another. Not being afraid of summer light, which is sometimes harsh. To dare.
Paradoxically, we had very few technical means to achieve this. It was therefore necessary to choose settings, day and night, on which I could intervene. We worked in negative, cutting existing lights to build the desired image, and adding little touches a color, a contrast that would take us into fiction.
The night scene in the skate park between the characters Malo [Matthieu Lucci] and Elias [Louis Pluton] is quite representative of this approach. The lighting mixed several types of light sources sodium, neon tubes, etc. and the colors blended together. By cutting off certain sources, we built a nighttime atmosphere that I really like. Ditto when the character Eve [Rose Timbert] goes to the beach at night to look for her friend Lise [Agathe Talrich]. The sodium lit up the cornice and immersed the beach in this yellow-orange glow. In the distance, a few neon lights gave a colder touch in shades of blue-green.
Outdoors during the day, and especially for the long beach sequence at the beginning of the film, which opens with the sun at its zenith and continues until nightfall, our principle was to respect very precise shooting schedules. Thus, each part of the sequence swimming, discussions on the beach, aperitif, bathing at the end of the day, etc. has its own identity. Then, the digital color correction allowed me to accentuate these small differences to further mark the passage of time.
There was also, for us, this very present idea of filming faces as if they were landscapes. We would take the time to look at them and try to make faces and landscapes respond to each other as if the two were linked and together participated in the expression of the characters feelings. The decor of the Palais Longchamp in Marseille, with its large columns, goes in this direction, giving the first group of friends that surrounds Lise a sacred dimension.
Were there any particular visual references you looked at for inspiration?
Bertholet: I had no precise visual references. Lets say rather that milie gave me directions in which to look things she liked, things she asked me to look at. It was then up to me to appropriate them, to digest' them, and to think about how to make them meaningful for our project and our desires. Jumbled up, I would quote the cinema of Gus Van Sant, that of Philippe Garrel, certain romantic paintings such as those of Caspar David Friedrich, the photographic work of Nan Goldin. And then, a film that personally nourished me for this project: American Honey by Andrea Arnold, photographed by Robbie Ryan [BSC, ISC]. In my opinion, it is the perfect example of an image that serves the film, its words, its staging, and participates fully in its identity.
What brought you to Panavision for this project?
Bertholet: I have lived in Marseille for almost 20 years. I was a 1st camera assistant when I moved here, and very quickly I was brought to meet the Panavision Marseille team. I have prepared a very large number of films with them, and over the years a relationship of trust has developed between us. When I started working on this project, it seemed natural to me to turn to them and use their services.
What inspired you to become a cinematographer and what keeps you inspired today?
Bertholet: I have an extremely classic background: assistant for 20 years, then operator and cinematographer. I strongly believe in this journey and its benefits. The years spent glued to the camera, close to the operator and the actors, are an extraordinary way to learn ones trade, to learn to think in terms of images, focal lengths, colors, contrast, density. In short, to learn cinematographic vocabulary and grammar. And then there comes a day when you feel like you can use this vocabulary to create images and highlight a scenario.
What inspires me today is first of all an encounter. A filmmaker who will convince me that their view of a story deserves to be told. From that moment on, I find immense pleasure in blending into an imaginary world and trying, with my tools and my own sensitivity, to respond to a desire for cinema. And then, finally, there is the
Most recent headlines
04/12/2023
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, announced the release of Dalet Cut, the cloud-native, lightning-fast multimedia a...
06/08/2023
In this news item featured in Campaign, digital advertising companies operating in Southeast Asia have been recognised for their compliance with TAG's brand...
02/07/2023
Our robust, comparable data provides trusted insights and gives media owners, buyers and planners the power to trade confidently.
ABC members and data subscrib...
02/07/2023
We'll be releasing The next set of ABC audited consumer media data covering the period January to December 2022 on Tuesday 21st February at noon.
When rele...
02/07/2023
We'll be releasing The next set of ABC audited consumer media data covering the period January to December 2022 on Tuesday 21st February at noon.
When rele...
10/06/2023
COW Job Listing: Motion Designer / MGA / Video Editor
Brie Clayton June 9, 2023
0 Comments
Motion Designer / MGA / Video Editor...
10/06/2023
Courtneys Got Talent Hit songwriter and America's Got Talent producer Courtney Harrell's seemingly impossible path from hardship to hard-won success.
...
10/06/2023
Searching for a Song's Emotional Arc By
Susan Rogers
June 9, 2023
Susan Rogers
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not.
...
10/06/2023
After a TikTok Hit, corook Gets Serious (Sort Of) The humor and sincerity of if i were a fish struck a chord with alum Corinne Savages listeners. Their new EP...
10/06/2023
Reacting to is plunging share price, the board of Cineverse approved at 1 for 20 reverse stock split....
10/06/2023
Prime Video has released the second season trailer for Good Omens, which comes out July 28. Michael Sheen, David Tennant and Jon Hamm are in the cast....
10/06/2023
NBC Sports chairman Pete Bevacqua, who was a punter for the Fighting Irish football team, was named athletics director for Notre Dame, effective in 2024....
10/06/2023
Pat Robertson, Baptist minister, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and longtime host of The 700 Club, died June 8 at home in Virginia Beach. He was ...
10/06/2023
The CW has ordered a second season of drama Sullivan's Crossing, which debuts this fall. The show, based on novels by Robyn Carr, stars Morgan Kohan, Chad M...
10/06/2023
Investigative journalist Brittany Johnson is joining WCVB Boston's 5 Investigates unit. She starts June 12 and comes from KCRA Sacramento....
10/06/2023
BYUtv has ordered two more seasons of sketch comedy show Studio C, which will be seasons 17 and 18. The season 18 premiere will feature a celebratory 200th epis...
10/06/2023
Nexstar Media Group said it promoted Carter Murphy to VP and general manager of WJBF-TV, in Augusta, Ga., and Aiken, S.C., and its digital operations in the mar...
10/06/2023
Prime Video shared the trailer for season two of The Summer I Turned Pretty, which features Taylor Swift track August . The season comes out July 14, with thre...
09/06/2023
C2G Showcases Active Connectivity Solutions for System Optimization at InfoComm ...
09/06/2023
The world was introduced to the high-camp comedic antics of Trixie Mattel in the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. A fan favorite, she returned in the s...
09/06/2023
When blue sky thinking gets cloudy
We have talked before in a previous blog about the endless acronyms that appear in technology markets. One you might not hav...
09/06/2023
Broadcast executive Thomas Sarnoff passed away on June 4, 2023 in Woodland Hills, Calif., at the age of 96. The Television Academy issued the following obituary...
09/06/2023
IRVING, Texas Nexstar Media Group has announced the promotion of Carter Murphy to vice president and general manager of its broadcast and digital operations ser...
09/06/2023
Northridge Church's fusion of technology and creativity as evidenced by their praise band playing against an LED backdrop of digitally rendered but stunni...
09/06/2023
Lightware's innovative products are changing education establishments worldwide, streamlining connectivity and providing an impressive momentum for its inno...
09/06/2023
Mo-Sys Engineering (www.mo-sys.com), a world leader in image robotics, virtual production and remote production solutions, has updated its G30 heavy-duty gyro-s...
09/06/2023
The King's Academy Outfits Virtual Production Studio with URSA Mini Pro 12K
Brie Clayton June 9, 2023
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced ...
09/06/2023
Avid Delivers Pro Tools Innovation with Track Markers and Expanded Immersive Mix...
09/06/2023
TOHO GAKUEN Uses URSA Broadcast G2 and ATEM Switcher for Live Production of Entr...
09/06/2023
Sound Particles Releases SkyDust 3D Update
Brie Clayton June 9, 2023
0 Comments
New features coming to breakthrough spatial synth
After making history...
09/06/2023
When CNN brought Chris Licht aboard in May 2022 to replace Jeff Zucker as CEO, part of Licht's agenda was to provide a (what it termed) a more bipartisan ...
09/06/2023
Mo-Sys said it has listened to G30 users and made the mount easier to rig and operate, and even more precise and repeatable in its moves and positioning
By Jen...
09/06/2023
High Wire provides editing, grading, sound design and mixing, subtitling, audio description and graphics
By Jenny Priestley
Published: June 9, 2023
High W...
09/06/2023
Images and video content from iStock by Getty Images and Unsplash will seamlessly integrate with illusto, a cloud-based video editing solution, providing users ...
09/06/2023
NEW YORK FilmRise has announced that it has surpassed the 250 FAST channel mark with its global offering and that it plans to launch another 133 services in 202...
09/06/2023
LOS ANGELES Frequency, a developer of software for virtual linear and FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channel creation and Wurl, a provider of dat...
09/06/2023
PITTSBURGH NEP Group has announced that it has named Martin Stewart as its new CEO. Steward, who had been the company's chief financial officer, succeeds Br...
09/06/2023
LONDON Mo-Sys Engineering has announced a major update to its G30 heavy-duty gyro-stabilized remote head. Designed to provide silent operation and capture beaut...
09/06/2023
Weekend Excursion takes the main stage on Rocky Mount Mills' scenic lawn this Friday night, June 09, 2023, from 7:00pm 9:00pm. Bring a lawn chair, a blank...
09/06/2023
Tonight on Gqeberha: A scorned wife asks for a divorceDon't miss tonight's episode of Gqeberha: The Empire, and watch the latest episode on Mzansi Magic...
09/06/2023
Tonight on Muvhango: James wants Imani to be sent homeDon't miss out on the latest drama in Muvhango! Muvhango episodes airs on SABC2 from Mondays to Friday...
09/06/2023
Tonight on 7de Laan: Niel begs Alexa to keep his secretDon't miss out on what's happening on tonight's episode of 7de Laan and Catch the latest epis...
09/06/2023
7de Laan live updates: Niel begs Alexa to keep his secretWhat's new on 7de Laan? Find out HERE! Stay informed on what's trending on your favorite televi...
09/06/2023
Prison journalism: Prisoner's right to voteThe basic right to vote as a prisoner or ex-convict. Revoked or even deprived from in differing prisons in differ...
09/06/2023
SKEEM SAAM: Tonight's episode, 9 June 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of Skeem Saam soapie right here...
09/06/2023
Skeem Saam live updates: A former hospital employee gets her job backWhat's new on Skeem Saam? Find out HERE! Stay informed on what's trending on your f...
09/06/2023
HOUSE OF ZWIDE: Episode for 9 June 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of House of Zwide? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of House of Zwide soapie right her...
09/06/2023
SCANDAL: Tonight's episode, 9 June 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Scandal ? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of Scandal soapie right here. Don...
09/06/2023
GENERATIONS: Tonight's episode, 9 June 2023 [VIDEO]Missed an episode of Generations ? No problem! Watch all the latest episodes of Generations soapie right ...
09/06/2023
Ed Sheeran or Coldplay: What is the most relaxing' song on earth?Need some relaxing tunes to help you unwind after a busy week? Here are the top 20 most s...