DP Douglas Seok on shooting Cambodian film White Building with ARRI: ALEXA Mini became my center of calm
04/11/2021
Our approach had always been to give the audience a sense of the building's spirit. It wasnt necessarily about specific architectural details, but more of what the tenement meant to the community and how it became a symbiotic living organism, says Seok. We weaved together two separate buildings, Pasteur and Psar Tapang, to recreate the now-demolished White Building, and it helped us let the characters breathe and have a life of their own. We wanted to honor the original building instead of trying to replicate it.
Seok and his crew, the Anti-Archives production company, drew inspiration from their previous features and shorts, such as New Land Broken Road, and Turn Left, Turn Right which explored many of the same themes. Through their past projects, they were able to inject the right mix of dance, youth, family, and social issues into the film. I think we had collectively developed a sense of tone, timing, and intuitive feel. When it came to shooting White Building,' we already had a strong foundation, and nothing was off-limits-so we pushed ourselves even more, mentions Seok.
Copyright Marion Bernard
Cambodia-based DP Douglas Seok with the ARRI ALEXA Mini
In achieving his and his team's vision, they found the ARRI ALEXA Mini to be a reliable partner; the only one available in Cambodia at that time. Seok reveals, When we heard that Producer Loy Te and Kongchak Pictures had an ALEXA Mini, we immediately felt that it was the camera for us, due to its superior image quality and robust build. It had already accumulated many hours of shooting under the hostile climate, but it never failed us. With so many variables to consider, I knew the Mini would be very dependable; it became my center of calm. There were nights of difficult shoots, but I remember always feeling a sense of calm when I hit record, having my eye on the viewfinder and the warmth of the camera next to my face.
In a place like Cambodia, where the light can be excessively harsh, filming in buildings that are designed in a way that cast extreme shadows makes the area practically pitch-black. Even so, the Mini could capture the latitude that was crucial to the texture of the film. The title implies how important the buildings are to the point where they are central characters themselves, and the Mini gave me the confidence to push the extremes on both ends, Seok continues.
Copyright Marion Bernard
Douglas Seok and his team shooting a scene on the streets of Phnom Penh with the ARRI ALEXA Mini
White Building has been several years in the making, born out of the pursuit of pure creativity and an imaginative spirit by a young and diverse crew who came together for the love of cinema. Seok and Anti-Archives are among many local filmmakers who aspire for the continuous rise of Cambodia's film industry. Seok comments, As technology has advanced, it's given a new generation of filmmakers accessibility to create. I am so happy that there is exposure to emerging talents in the country. I hope it brings awareness to the global community that there are many talented artists in Cambodia who are inspired to tell their stories.
The evolution of cinematography and image-capturing technology has also given local filmmakers the proper tools to explore ideas without worrying about equipment breakdown. Seok explains, The one fundamental aspect that has to be acknowledged is that the build quality has improved so much. Cambodia's climate was probably not the default setting for many camera manufacturers. But, with sensors continuously evolving, we can now capture the beauty of Cambodia, not only how the sun shines and reflects in the country but even more so at night when the world transforms into yet another beautiful organism.
ALEXA Mini More than just a camera
ALEXA Mini LF Large format, small camera
LINK: | https://www.arri.com/news-en/dp-douglas-seok-on-shooting-cambodian-fil... |
See more stories from arri |
More from ARRI
13/12/2022
Gaffer Franck Barrault shares his passion for light with ARRI tools
As a young electrician, Franck Barrault was part of the lighting team for Delicatessen and La Cit des enfants perdus : two legendary films, directed by Marc...
06/12/2022
ARRI's large-format system magnifies the complexities of Before, Now & Then
A captivating story of a woman's multifaceted struggles, Before, Now & Then has touched the hearts of local and global audiences alike. The film won Best ...
01/12/2022
All hands on deck: creating an immersive experience for 1899
Set on a migrant steamship, Netflix's mystery series 1899 tells the stories of a multicultural cast in search of new lives in the US, whose journey quickl...
22/11/2022
DP Jean-Max Bernard brings Netflix series Notre-Dame to life with ARRI tools
The world was watching when, on April 15, 2019, the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris caught fire. A notable UNESCO World Heritage site, Notre-Dame is considered to...
21/11/2022
Camerimage 2022 winners rely on ARRI cameras and lenses
At the 30th installment of Camerimage this year, cinephiles from around the world returned to Toru , Poland, in November 2022. Once again, Camerimage rolled out...
10/11/2022
The ALEXA 35 feels like a truly new-generation camera
You created the video clip for British singer-songwriter Grace Davies' latest lead single Breathe. What were your goals for the visual style of this proje...
26/10/2022
La tecnologia ARRI dietro alla creazione dei quattro mondi estetici del lungometraggio Netflix "Robbing Mussolini"
Il film, ambientato nel 1945, racconta di un imprenditore milanese impegnato nel...
26/10/2022
How ARRI technology helped to create four visual worlds in Netflix's Robbing Mussolini
A longtime collaborator with different Italian directors, cinematographer Gian F...
13/10/2022
DP Italo Petriccione utilizes ARRI lenses and lights for a journey through time and color
DP Italo Petriccione has been a part of more than 50 feature films since 1986. O...
13/10/2022
Il direttore della fotografia Italo Petriccione utilizza lenti e luci ARRI per raccontare un viaggio attraverso il tempo e i colori
Il direttore della fotografia Italo Petriccione, che ha all'attivo oltre 50 ...
29/09/2022
ARRI honored with Engineering Emmy for more than a century of creativity and technology
At the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards ceremony on September...
28/09/2022
Tencent elevates virtual production with ARRI Solutions
As one of the leading digital publishing companies worldwide, Tencent creates immersive, interactive content for people around the globe. Tencent Content Develo...
28/09/2022
ARRI menyoroti iklan dan video musik: DP Kanam Onoyama
Baik iklan maupun video musik merupakan bidang dengan tingkat estetika yang tinggi. ARRI Prancis menggali lebih dalam menuju jenis produksi ini dan terlebih dah...
20/09/2022
DP Christophe Offenstein captures La Tour with ARRI ALEXA Mini LF and Signature Primes
DP Christophe Offenstein was awarded with the prestigious French C sar Award for...
20/09/2022
Christophe Offenstein filme La Tour avec l'ARRI ALEXA Mini LF et les Signature Primes
C sar de la meilleure photo pour Valley of Love , Christophe Offenstein retro...
14/09/2022
ARRI cameras and lighting behind the many works of Italian DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC
Proficient in a wide range of genera, DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC h...
14/09/2022
I sistemi camera e l illuminazione ARRI dietro i numerosi lavori del DP italiano Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC
Abile in una vasta gamma di generi, il DP Michele Brandstetter de Bellesini AIC ...
08/09/2022
ARRI Solutions delivers IP-based lighting network for Al Araby TV studios
Al Araby TV is the first major network in the Middle East to be equipped with IP-based lighting technology across the entirety of its new headquarters in Doha, ...
05/09/2022
Coldplay mixed reality promo at ARRI Stage London combines best of two worlds
British rock band Coldplay delivered a spectacular show in early 2022 as part of the delayed Dubai Expo2020. The mixed reality promotional film was shot at ARRI...
16/08/2022
ARRI Stage London unlocks creative potential for Sky Studios' The Rising
Although the Sky Original supernatural crime thriller series The Rising, from Sky Studios, initially decided on virtual production for safety considerations, ...
29/07/2022
Television Academy honors ARRI with an Engineering Emmy for more than a century of creativity and technology
The Television Academy announced the recipients of the 74th Engineering, Science...
27/07/2022
ARRI brings consistency and reliability to the set of Bake Off Japan
Amazon Prime Video recently released Bake Off Japan, a Japanese adaptation of the global hit show of the same name, where passionate home-bakers compete under...
19/07/2022
The cinematography of The Sound of Magic dazzles with the help of the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF camera
Netflix shakes up its Korean dramatic offerings with a more unique production in...
13/07/2022
ARRI ALEXA LF, Mini LF, and Signature Primes behind the scenes of a Portuguese feature film
Based on the successful novel by Portuguese author L dia Jorge, The Wind Whistl...
11/07/2022
ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Benoit Soler
Trained at the prestigious National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom, it didn't take long for cinematographer Benoit Soler to make a ...
11/07/2022
La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Benoit Soler, directeur de la photo
Form la prestigieuse National Film and Television School (NFTS) au Royaume-Uni, le directeur de la photographie Benoit Soler naura pas mis longtemps se fai...
08/07/2022
ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Mlodie Preel
M lodie Preel, a young director of photography very active in advertising with about twenty spots per year, first went through the ESRA International Film Schoo...
08/07/2022
La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Mlodie Preel, directrice de la photo
Jeune directrice de la photo tr s active dans la publicit avec une vingtaine de spots par an, M lodie Preel est dabord pass e par lESRA, avant de devenir assis...
06/07/2022
ARRI spotlights commercials and music videos: DP Kanam Onoyama
Both commercials and music videos are fields with high aesthetic stakes. ARRI France dove a bit deeper into these types of productions and first spotlights cine...
06/07/2022
La pub, terrain de jeu cratif : Kanam Onoyama, directeur de la photo
Japonais install depuis quinze ans en France, Kanam Onoyama est venu faire ses tudes de cin ma lESRA, apr s sa licence de litt rature fran aise lUniversi...
28/06/2022
ARRI SkyPanels illuminate World Figure Skating Championships 2022
When planning the lighting installation for this giant live sports tournament, the team around Lighting Designer Anton Weber was faced with a number of creative...
10/06/2022
Il DP Vittorio Zorini ci racconta l esplosione di colori in "Bang Bang Baby utilizzando attrezzatura ARRI
Prodotta da Amazon Studios, la serie italiana Bang Bang Baby racconta la storia ...
10/06/2022
DP Vittorio Zorini on the explosion of colors in Bang Bang Baby with ARRI equipment
Produced by Amazon Studios, Italian series Bang Bang Baby tells the story of a...
30/05/2022
La technologie ARRI dans les coulisses de Cannes 2022
Du 17 au 28 mai, la cr me de lindustrie du cin ma sest r unie loccasion du 75 me Festival de Cannes. En tant que leader technologique mondial dans le domaine ...
30/05/2022
ARRI technology behind the scenes of Cannes 2022
From May 17 to 28, the who's who of the movie industry came together at the 75th Festival de Cannes. As a global technology leader in the cinematography and...
12/05/2022
Thomas Hardmeier et Laurent Hritier sur Bigbug mettant en scne les camras, optiques et lumires ARRI
C sar de la meilleure photo pour Lextravagant voyage du jeune et prodigieux T....
12/05/2022
Thomas Hardmeier and Laurent Hritier on Bigbug with ARRI cameras, lenses, and lights
Eight years after winning the C sar for best photography for The extravagant jo...
05/05/2022
Interview avec le chef lectricien Stphane Bourgoin
Chef lectricien chevronn , St phane Bourgoin travaille r guli rement sur les nombreuses productions am ricaines qui viennent tourner en France. Apr s les tr s ...
05/05/2022
Le chef lectro Stphane Bourgoin notamment sur Le Dernier Duel et Emily in Paris avec ARRI Lighting
Chef lectricien chevronn , St phane Bourgoin travaille r guli rement sur les no...
05/05/2022
Stphane Bourgoin on The Last Duel, Emily in Paris, and more with ARRI Lighting
St phane Bourgoin is a seasoned gaffer who regularly works on the many American productions that come to France to shoot. Most recently, after working on the tw...
28/04/2022
ARRI cameras and lights behind the cinematography of Drive My Car
Drive My Car has been taking the world by storm, recently adding the Academy Award for Best International Feature to its long list of accolades. The film is wi...
19/04/2022
ARRI SkyPanels add versatility and dependability to future-forward Sportsnet Studio
In 1929, when Hockey Night in Canada began broadcasting from Toronto's Arena...
06/04/2022
Master Grips
Best overall production value EF, ENG, and cine lens control Advanced camera control Solid mechanical design Override the WCU 4 hand unit Useful features ...
28/03/2022
2022 Oscar winners rely on ARRI cameras and lenses
The Oscars returned in all its glory this year, adhering to the new normal modified COVID protocols to celebrate a year's worth of cinematic artistry and ...
08/03/2022
ALEXA Mini LF digunakan dalam pengambilan gambar yang berkelanjutan untuk Seat at the Table
Dibuat dan dipersembahkan oleh aktivis iklim dan pembuat film yaitu Jack Harries...
08/03/2022
Seat at the TableALEXA Mini LF
Jack Harries Seat at the Table 12 YouTube Studio Silverback ...