Based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, the feature Priscilla reunited writer-director Sofia Coppola with cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd, ASC, AFC. Their prior collaborations included the features The Beguiled and On the Rocks, both of which were photographed on 35mm negative. Priscilla, though, marked Le Sourd's first foray into digital acquisition, and he worked closely with Panavision Toronto in selecting his camera and lens package, ultimately opting to pair an Alexa 35 camera with Panavision Super Speed and Ultra Speed optics. Here, the cinematographer shares his perspective on the creative approach behind the movie's visual language.
Panavision: How would you describe the look of Priscilla?
Philippe Le Sourd, ASC, AFC: This movie is a tapestry of emotions, so you try to convey the feelings of each character. Its about how you frame it, the power of negative space, and lighting directions. For me, the essence lies in ensuring the audience deeply connects with the characters. I like to convey on each scene and each moment the essence of the emotion of the film.
Were there any particular visual references that you looked at for inspiration?
Le Sourd: In my quest to capture the essence of the Elvis and Priscilla era, I realized the abundance of references available from books to the internet and YouTube. However, instead of replicating existing images, often tinged with Kodachrome interpretations, I opted for a more innovative approach. Rather than producing a mere photocopy, I sought to create a fresh interpretation of that time.
During this process, I stumbled upon a captivating black-and-white photograph from Saul Leiter featuring a woman seated on a bed, cloaked in complete silhouette. Instantly, I knew I had found the cinematic inspiration I was seeking a departure from the conventional Elvis and Priscilla imagery.
In addition to this evocative photograph, we delved into the world of movies that held a special place in my heart and cinematic education. Having studied Italian cinema at university, my early passion was ignited by Antonionis masterpiece, LAvventura. The films framing, composition, and mise-en-sc ne profoundly influenced my perspective as a cinematographer. The portrayal of loneliness, emptiness, and the adventurous spirit resonated with me.
Our cinematic journey also drew inspiration from another Antonioni gem, LEclisse, which brought us immense joy. These films became not just references but guiding lights in shaping the visual narrative of our project.
What brought you to Panavision for this project?
Le Sourd: Panavision is a gold mine. You search for something, and you know that something antique or super modern could be there. You cant be wrong to go to Panavision. The people, the quality, the craft, the knowledge that comes from 70 years. I knew I need these craftspeople behind me.
What optical characteristics did you see in the Ultra Speed and Super Speed lenses that made them the right match for this story?
Le Sourd: This was my first movie shot on digital, so I did a lot of tests to compare formats. Even the size of the camera adds a layer to the set ambience. When you bring a piece of equipment on set, it tells a story to the actor and to the director.
I've used the Super Speed and Ultra Speed lenses on film before, and perhaps it was an unconscious decision, but they turned out to be the perfect fit for this particular story. Reflecting on it, I believe it came down to the texture they provided. There was a unique quality, a certain depth that resonated with the emotional essence of the narrative, and ultimately, that aspect held greater significance for me.
Working with digital afforded me the freedom to manipulate colors and experiment more on set. Typically, I lean towards a naturalistic approach in my work, but with Priscilla, I found it was interesting to explore the idea of color and the emotional impact of color.
How does this project differ from others in your career?
Le Sourd: Every project is different, but I think there's a continuity of the work in certain ways, a continuity of research. You never stop looking for something. Every day brings something different and challenging. Even a scene like Priscilla and Elvis' first kiss inside a car was a challenge. I needed to find something special that brought the emotion of two lovers inside a cage. So for me, it's always a challenge. I never stop thinking, Was that different?'
Images courtesy of A24.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
14/11/2026
Longtime MLB Network employee David Maybrown passed away Thursday at the age of 57. David joined MLB Network in 2009 shortly after its launch, beginning as an i...
14/11/2026
Modular innovators introduce two guitar-based products
ADDAC System's recently introduced Four String Series makes it possible to integrate physical str...
14/11/2026
Marcelo Dai's Live Session Captured with URSA Cine Immersive
Brie Clayton November 14, 2026
0 Comments
Artist takes viewers on an immersive journe...
14/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
14/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
14/11/2026
Newest Lenses, Horizon Anamorphic Seminar & Guided Lens Character Experience Highlight Creative Possibilities
At the 2026 Toru CAMERIMAGE Film Festival, ZEISS...
14/11/2026
Sonnet Announces Black Friday Sale on Select Products
Brie Clayton November 14, 2026
0 Comments
WHAT: Sonnet Technologies is having a sale on a select...
14/11/2026
Berklee Alumni Shine at the 2026 Latin Grammy Awards This year's winners included songwriters, engineers, and performers who contributed to acclaimed reco...
13/11/2026
The UIM E1 Series wraps its third season this week with the Bombay Sapphire E1 Miami GP, Nov. 11-14, on Biscayne Bay at the Miami Seaplane Base on Watson Island...
13/11/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
13/11/2026
Singer-songwriter Benson Boone will headline entertainment for the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles St...
13/11/2026
Blackmagic Design has announced the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone, a 7th order ambisonic microphone array that captures spatial audio for immersive video prod...
13/11/2026
SMPTE has announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infrastructure and communications technology for the Solutions Hub at t...
13/11/2026
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has announced the theme and program focus for the 2027 HPA Tech Retreat, which takes place Feb. 14-18, 2027, in La ...
13/11/2026
Football Manager 27 Touch is available on Apple Arcade starting today. The game ...
13/11/2026
MotoGP has announced a two-year media rights agreement with ESPN covering the Un...
13/11/2026
Apple Sports, the free iPhone app, has added the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to its lineup of supported sports, in time for Saturday's UFC 334. The...
13/11/2026
The NBA and Fanatics Studios, the joint venture between Fanatics and entertainme...
13/11/2026
ESPN held its annual EDGE Innovation Conference last night and offered up an ove...
13/11/2026
Regional sports network gives Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland students a platform to thrive
One of the biggest games in Division III college football will be pla...
13/11/2026
Studer-inspired 500-series PWM compressor unveiled
The HLabs range already includes a couple of Studer-inspired offerings in the form of the PRE169 and EQ16...
13/11/2026
Download Now!
To view the white paper, please enter the following details:
--
First Name* First Name
Company*
Country* Please select your countryA...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Blue Lucy, the workflow orchestration and integration platform for broadcasters, rights owners and localisation companies, today announced an integration with c...
13/11/2026
Krotos announces Black Friday offers on Studio Pro and Studio Max
Brie Clayton November 12, 2026
0 Comments
First-year annual plans start at US$195.99...
13/11/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone
Brie Clayton November 12, 2026
0 Comments
New 7th order ambisonic microphone with 108 MEMS...
13/11/2026
Meet the Berklee Student Setting Planetary Motion to Music With his compositional platform SoniKosmos, Javier Roqueni aims to make the universe the ultimate i...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , er...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Share
{alert(Link copied)}).catch(err => {console.error(Failed to copy: , err)}) data-platform=copy_link data-action= class=font-ui-heading py-2 text-sm tex...
13/11/2026
Amagi, the media industry cloud company, today announced a partnership with Golden Times Media Technology (stock code 920021.BJ), a Beijing-based media and tech...
13/11/2026
CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, together with its Malaysian partner, Cedar ...
13/11/2026
SMPTE, the home for media professionals, technologists and engineers, today announced that The Studio B&H and Riedel Communications will provide the video infra...
13/11/2026
iWedia, a global leader in connected TV software solutions, will present its software-first approach to DRAM optimization at Android TV APAC Summit 2026 in Bang...
13/11/2026
Beginning today, November 13, Apple HomeView is available for purchase at Apple Store locations, on the Apple Store online, and in the Apple Store app in select...
13/11/2026
From pediatric research to smart hospitals, AI is helping care teams spend less time on routine tasks and more time with patients.
Health systems and startups...
12/11/2026
Industry leaders examine how Dynamic Media Facility, Media eXchange Layer, and c...
12/11/2026
The junior Tar Heel is embracing the technical and creative challenges of live production while emerging as a leader and mentor in the control room...
12/11/2026
Gracenote, Nielsen's content intelligence business, has released its fifth a...
Based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, the feature Priscilla reunited writer-director Sofia Coppola with cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd, ASC, AFC. Their prior collaborations included the features The Beguiled and On the Rocks, both of which were photographed on 35mm negative. Priscilla, though, marked Le Sourd's first foray into digital acquisition, and he worked closely with Panavision Toronto in selecting his camera and lens package, ultimately opting to pair an Alexa 35 camera with Panavision Super Speed and Ultra Speed optics. Here, the cinematographer shares his perspective on the creative approach behind the movie's visual language.
