Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Cinematographer Tim Orr on the series Dickinson

30/08/2024

When Apple TV+ was unveiled earlier this year, Apple positioned the video subscription service as the new home for the world's most celebrated creative artists. One of the first projects ordered was Dickinson, a quirky series loosely based on the writings and biography of Emily Dickinson. The unique tone blends 19th century period details with modern, anachronistic aspects and flights of fancy meant to bring viewers into the poet's imagination like literary history crossed with teen angst and a dash of feminism.

Photo courtesy of Apple

Apple's stated emphasis on quality in material and personnel brought creator Alena Smith to director of photography Tim Orr, who chose to shoot on the Panavision Millennium DXL2. Light Iron, whose color science is an integrated part of the camera ecosystem, also supported Orr's creative process from the start.

The producers wanted it to be fresh and contemporary with a bolder, younger vibe, says Orr. It was billed to me as a kind of comedy and there are very funny moments, but there are also some very serious dramatic moments. It's certainly not Masterpiece Theater!

Orr tested several cameras that meet Apple's requirement for 4K origination. I was really struck by the way the DXL2 rendered color, he explains. What Panavision and Light Iron have done in terms of remapping the color science, and the way the camera uses the MONSTRO sensor, is really beautiful. It's the best of all worlds in terms of color depth. And I also really liked the build of the camera. Panavision is the best in the business for a reason. They've been building cameras for a long time, and they listen to filmmakers about what a modern, robust digital film camera should be.

Photo courtesy of Apple

Light Iron senior colorist Sean Dunckley helped develop a series of LUTs based on early camera tests. The DP-colorist duo previously worked together on The World Made Straight and the pilot for Amazon's Z: The beginning of Everything. On Dickinson, Orr decided to shoot at 8K for maximum resolution as well as for depth-of-field characteristics. Occasionally he'd switch to 6K for higher frame rates or to mitigate the effects of a very wide lens. He says that wrangling the massive amounts of data didn't slow down production at all.

Even though the final result isn't going to be seen in 8K, that resolution is baked in, Orr says. And it's future-proofed for the day when 8K is viewable by the general public.

The cinematographer chose a set of Primo 70s with a specific level of customization in the middle of the range of possibilities. The glass is expressly designed to work with larger digital sensors with more consistency across the frame.

I've always been a fan of Primos, Orr relates. I knew we wanted a present-day look, but with solid performance in terms of color matching and flare characteristics. Primo 70s are reminiscent of the classic Primos in color, skin tones, and edge-to-edge sharpness. They keep the blacks solid, which worked well with our night scenes and flame sources. With the customization, even at the high resolution, I didn't need to use much diffusion, and the skin tones look silky and beautiful.

Photo courtesy of Apple

Dunckley supervised dailies and post color. Orr saw dailies every day and communicated his intent in part with reference stills. With the exception of some of the more fantastic scenes, where we might stretch the color or add saturation, it's grounded in naturalism, Orr describes. I built the look mostly through lighting, so we were usually finessing the original intent.

Dunckley points to the unprecedented level of integration between camera and post that led to superb results and streamlined benefits. As a colorist, I am constantly making the same adjustments to various cameras, he notes. DXL color science integrates many of those adjustments earlier in the workflow, so the image coming out of the camera provides me with an improved starting point as I work toward achieving the final look. With DXL, I spend less time normalizing shots and more time with the DP refining the grade, which creates a much better result.

Dickinson has a very mixed tone, and we had to balance between the historic, romantic tone and a more modern feel, Dunckley adds. The production design really helped with this, and Tim lit in a very period way. Then I tried to separate the reds and cyans. In the end, we ended up with something unique.

Orr is currently working on Season 2 of Dickinson and is collaborating again with Panavision and Light Iron. Considering the positive reviews and buzz on social media, it seems critics and fans want more. It's exciting to be part of this project, says Orr. I'm looking forward to working with the team on another successful season.
LINK: https://www.panavision.com/highlights/highlights-detail/success-is-cou...
See more stories from panavision

Most recent headlines

09/12/2024

Dalet Named an IDC Innovator in Media and Entertainment

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced that it has been named an IDC Innovator in the IDC Innovators: ...

09/11/2024

Dalet Expands Leadership Team to Fuel Next Stage of Growth

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced three new members of its executive team. Tara Bryant joins as Chi...

02/11/2024

CBS Owned Stations Go Virtual To Reinvent News

Visitors to the CBS News and Stations-owned KPIX-KPYX San Francisco will find a bustling local news operation producing 60 hours of local news each week that ha...

02/11/2024

Weigel's WMLW to Air Milwaukee Bucks Games

MILWAUKEE Weigel Broadcasting has announced a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks to broadcast the NBA team's games for the second consecutive season....

02/11/2024

Trump Sues CBS over Editing of Harris Interview

Former president and GOP nominee for president Donald Trump has filed a federal lawsuit seeking a jury trial and $10 billion in damaged against CBS over claims ...

02/11/2024

CBS Stations Debuts AR/VR Presidential Election Center

An ambitious effort to develop and deploy AR/VR technologies at CBS' owned stations will be taking center stage on Nov. 5 in five markets, when CBS Stations...

02/11/2024

Chaos Releases V-Ray 7 for 3ds Max

Chaos Releases V-Ray 7 for 3ds Max Brie Clayton November 1, 2024 0 Comments Photorealistic Renderer Adds First Native Support for Gaussian Splats in a...

02/11/2024

Berklee's Signature Series Presents Singers Showcase: One Sweet Day-The Music of Mariah Carey

Berklee's Signature Series Presents Singers Showcase: One Sweet Day-The Musi...

02/11/2024

What If the Game of Thrones Theme Was Surf Rock? This TikToker Has the Answer

What If the Game of Thrones Theme Was Surf Rock? This TikToker Has the Answer Guitarist and TikTok user Cloudchord puts his spin on the epic theme music, orig...

02/11/2024

Mariah Carey Set the Standard for What a Christmas Album Could Be

Mariah Carey Set the Standard for What a Christmas Album Could Be The New York Times spoke with Berklees Maureen McMullan about Mariah Careys lasting impact o...

01/11/2024

From Corridos Tumbados to Mexican Reggaetn, Experience the Wide-Ranging Sounds of Mexico at MEXCLA Spotify

On November 2 and 3, more than 27 artists will take the stage at MEXCLA Spotify:...

01/11/2024

Celebrating 10 Years of Spotify in the Philippines

Since launching in the Philippines 10 years ago, Spotify has redefined how Filipinos discover and engage with music, fostering a thriving, fan-driven culture. O...

01/11/2024

CNN To Stream Election Night Coverage for Free

WASHINGTON CNN said its coverage plans for Election Night next Tuesday (Nov. 5) will include around-the-clock special coverage from the CNN Election Center in W...

01/11/2024

Fox Sports: Total World Series Viewing Up 67%

NEW YORK Fox Sports is reporting large audience numbers for the 2024 World Series and its coverage of the postseason, as 18.6 million viewers across Fox, Fox De...

01/11/2024

Boris FX Brings Greater ML Power to Continuum's VFX Toolkit

Boris FX Brings Greater ML Power to Continuum's VFX Toolkit Jessie Electa Petrov November 1, 2024 0 Comments The 2025 release adds instant, accura...

01/11/2024

Joseph Kahn's Frantic Horror Film Ick Completed with Full Blackmagic Design Workflow

Joseph Kahn's Frantic Horror Film Ick Completed with Full Blackmagic Design ...

01/11/2024

Pixel Power bolsters team with key appointments

The appointments follow the launch of an updated brand identity and corresponding restructure at the Rohde & Schwarz company By Matthew Corrigan Published: N...

01/11/2024

Landsec acquires MediaCity

The waterfront site is home to BBC North and ITV Studios, as well as dock10 and more than 250 creative businesses By Matthew Corrigan Published: November 1, ...

01/11/2024

Samba TV Acquires Semasio

SAN FRANCISCO Samba TV said it has acquired Semasio, a contextual targeting and audience data-solutions provider that will strengthen the company's ability ...

01/11/2024

6 Entravision Stations Add AccuWeather's StoryTeller+

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. AccuWeather said Spanish-language broadcaster Entravision Communications has purchased six of its StoryTeller+ Display Systems to enhance its...

01/11/2024

Comcast Explores Spinoff of Cable Networks

PHILADELPHIA As Comcast reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results, executives told analysts the company is considering spinning off its cabl...

01/11/2024

VEON Files its Dutch Annual Report with Audited Financial Statements for Year Ended 31 December 2023

01 Nov 2024 VEON Files its Dutch Annual Report with Audited Financial Statement...

01/11/2024

VEON Launches AI-Powered Super App Hambi in Uzbekistan

01 Nov 2024 VEON Launches AI-Powered Super App Hambi in Uzbekistan Amsterdam, Dubai and Tashkent, 1 November 2024 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam...

01/11/2024

Cosm Selects Detroit as Home of its Fourth Experiential Entertainment Venue

Cosm Selects Detroit as Home of its Fourth Experiential Entertainment Venue By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Friday, November 1, 2024 - 9:46 am Prin...

01/11/2024

Art Classes for all! Artist of the Year: Masterclass comes to Sky Arts this winter

Art Classes for all! Artist of the Year: Masterclass comes to Sky Arts this wint...

01/11/2024

Superpower Comedy Series The WONDERfools' Confirmed for Production

Back to All News Superpower Comedy Series The WONDERfools' Confirmed for Production Entertainment 01 November 2024 GlobalSouth Korea Link copied to cl...

01/11/2024

The Holidays Start Now on Netflix

Back to All News The Holidays Start Now on Netflix Entertainment 01 November 2024 GlobalUnited States Link copied to clipboard Slam the door shut on spook...

01/11/2024

The Focusrite End of Year Sale is here!

The Focusrite End of Year Sale is here! Discover savings on a wide range of new and refurbished audio equipment in our end of year sale, starting today. Now ...

01/11/2024

Inter BEE 2024. Tokyo. 13-15 November 2024

13-15 November HALL 7. Booth No.7310 Restar Communications Visit us in Tokyo at Inter BEE 2024, where you will find us with our partner Restar Communications....

01/11/2024

2024-10-31

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 fourth quarter ended September 28, 2024. The Company posted quarterly revenue ...

01/11/2024

RT is Supporting 28 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this November

This November, RT is delighted to support Cork International Film Festival, along with 27 other arts and cultural events nationwide, spanning theatre, film, ar...

31/10/2024

Revealing our finalists for the Young Journalist of the Year 2024

Three journalists whose stories give a voice to people who are oppressed or marginalised have been chosen as the finalists for the 2024 Young Journalist of the ...

31/10/2024

e.l.f. Cosmetics Uplifts Emerging Artists With a New Soundtrack to Your Beauty Routine

When it comes to self-expression, music and makeup are powerful tools that often...

31/10/2024

L3Harris Redefines Battlefield Intelligence with Autonomous Ground Vehicle Prototype

In modern ground warfare, U.S. Army Reconnaissance and Security (R&S) operations...

31/10/2024

Engaging Maritime Threats, Increasing Situational Awareness with EO/IR Solutions

Whether operating in a standalone capacity or as part of a networked system-of-systems approach, the WESCAM MX -10 MS and WESCAM MX -15 MS provide maritime oper...

31/10/2024

X Games To Launch FAST Channel With Streaming Partner Frequency

LOS ANGELES Action-sports property X Games has partnered with streaming channel creator and distributor Frequency on the launch of a new free ad-supported strea...

31/10/2024

Tegna, Fubo Strike Sports-Minded Multiyear Carriage Deal

TYSONS, Va. After securing the local broadcast rights for several NHL and NBA teams, Tegna has announced that it has reached a new multiyear agreement with Fubo...

31/10/2024

Sling TV Launches Max

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Sling TV has inked an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery that will allow the Dish Network-owned virtual pay TV provider to offer Max to its ...

31/10/2024

DirecTV To Beta Test Multiview Capabilities for Election Coverage

DirecTV is planning to launch a new Election HQ hub on Nov. 4 that will streamline access to election coverage and provide users of its Gemini and Gemini Air de...

31/10/2024

NewsON App Launches on Vizio Platform

SEATTLE In the run-up to the hotly contested 2024 elections, Sinclair's free local streaming news service NewsON said its app is now available on Vizio TVs....

31/10/2024

Court TV Taps Veritone To Manage, Monetize Its Digital Library

DENVER In a bid to improve the content management and revenue potential of its archives, Court TV has selected Veritone to manage and monetize its extensive di...

31/10/2024

BAD HOP's New Music Video Kawasaki Song Shot on Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K

BAD HOP's New Music Video Kawasaki Song Shot on Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Brie Clayton October 31, 2024 0 Comments Spikey John and Seiya Uehara ...

31/10/2024

VEGAS Creative Software Continues Ambitious New Feature Development Schedule with Another Update Release for VEGAS Pro 22

VEGAS Creative Software Continues Ambitious New Feature Development Schedule wit...

31/10/2024

Blockade Labs Launches Blendbox, Bringing Unmatched Control for 2D Generative AI Creations

Blockade Labs Launches Blendbox, Bringing Unmatched Control for 2D Generative AI...

31/10/2024

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got

Andr 3000 at Berklee: Respect Your Taste-Thats All You Got On tour for New Blue Sun, the iconic artist and his band sat down for a sprawling conversation on ...

31/10/2024

Comcast Beats Wall Street Estimates With Record Olympic Ad Revenues

Comcast reported healthy third-quarter revenues driven by an increase in ad sales during the Paris Summer Olympics, strong box-office receipts for its films and...

31/10/2024

Grammy Awards Will Move to ABC in 2027

Disney has signed a new deal with the Recording Academy to move the Grammy Awards from CBS to ABC starting in 2027....

31/10/2024

Hitachi Kokusai Appoints Bo Reames as East Coast Sales Manager

SOUTHWICK, Mass. Hitachi Kokusai has hired industry veteran Bo Reames as East Coast sales manager for North America. He reports to National Sales Manager Kennet...