The highly anticipated opus from director Quentin Tarantino doesn't disappoint. It's a typically outrageous conglomeration of comedy and shock laced with pop culture references to cult B movie film and TV shows, replete with a soundtrack of 1970s hits.
The all-star cast for Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood is headed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt playing a TV actor and stuntman, respectively, who cross paths with the Charles Manson cult.
Robert Richardson ASC, Cinematographer, on the set of Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood.
The director's longtime cinematographer Robert Richardson, ASC returns behind the camera, having lensed every Tarantino picture since Kill Bill (Vols 1 and 2), to shoot 1969 Los Angeles in primary colors of sky blue and sunset gold. Richardson returned to Panavision in Woodland Hills, the same facility where the filmmakers collaborated on the groundbreaking large-format release of The Hateful Eight (2015) as well as Django Unchained (2012).
When I first met with Quentin to read (Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood), he told me he was uncertain if he would shoot in 70 or 35 or perhaps a mixture of both. Over time, he decided to shoot 35mm. One of the prime reasons was that Quentin had designed a series of shots that were to utilize a zoom and that's not currently an option in 70mm.
Quentin Tarantino checks the frame for a scene with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.
Thinking that a certain amount of handheld shots might form part of Tarantino's design, Richardson chose the Panaflex Millennium XL2 as ergonomically the most balanced 35mm camera around. It can be converted from handheld to Steadicam to studio mode within seconds.
The XL2 has the sharpest video viewfinder that Panavision has yet to offer, and the video is also improved in brightness levels which aids the camera assistant.
Like The Hateful Eight, the film retains an epic cinemascope presentation paired with anamorphic lenses. Shooting in scope using anamorphics provided greater texture when moving between the various formats used in Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood such as 1.33:1 for early western TV sequences (based on CBS show Lancer) and 1:85 which was used for a series of commercials (that were shot but didn't make the final cut).
Quentin loves the wide screen and didn't want to consider a spherical Super 35 option, the Oscar-winning cinematographer notes. The aesthetic of Panavision's anamorphics is wide ranging and the most impressive in the industry. From Ts to Gs to Cs to Es to Primos each offers a unique look.
Richardson says Tarantino envisioned a vintage feel to match the story's era but with a modern twist and in pre-production embarked on a series of tests to find the precise lens selection. We wanted a 1970's retro, something familiar from the past but sitting in the present so when audiences watch the film it should feel slightly off balance.
With camera assistant Gregor Tavenner, Richardson tested a range of Panavision glass both on site at Panavision and on location of the western set that was eventually used for black-and-white sequences of DiCaprio's actor character playing a bounty hunter.
Each of these lens series has a specific feel and different personality so Gregor and I had to base our decision on what Quentin was requesting for a particular shot. At times we would utilize a lens with heavier flare capabilities or flaring that we thought more interesting in design, and other times we chose a lens that could handle high contrast without getting washed out. There is no magic formula it's test, trial and error.
That said, Dan Sasaki greatly aided us in getting closer focus for the T Series and losing the capability, to some degree, in distance.
The film stock was Kodak Vision3 5219, 5213 and Eastman Double-X black-and-white film 5222, with one small sequence on Super 8 Ektachrome and part of another short scene on 16mm Ektachrome.
Colorist Yvan Lucas collaborated with Richardson on setting the look and supervised the 4K digital intermediate. FotoKem developed and printed the dailies.
We took our initial tests to Yvan and to FotoKem and searched for a richer, saturated look particularly in the skin tones. With the aid of production design, costume and make-up, we got closer and closer to what Quentin was asking. Certain lenses capture color in a more natural manner while others give a richness. It takes time to understand how each is performing and the skill of a talented grader to make the adjustments.
Richardson adds, I am very pleased with how the film looks but more importantly how it supports the brilliance of what Quentin directed by meeting his initial requests for a rich tapestry of color. I hope audiences agree.
Most recent headlines
09/12/2024
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, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced three new members of its executive team. Tara Bryant joins as Chi...
04/10/2024
Samsung's Smart TVs are getting even smarter with the company's announcement this week that it is adding generative AI to its TV lineup....
04/10/2024
The easiest way to create a Progress Bar in After Effects
Graham Quince October 4, 2024
0 Comments
Forget using expressions, complex equations or anim...
04/10/2024
If anyone doubted the normalization of AI in the M&E space is a fait accompli, the IBC Show in Amsterdam put that notion to rest last month with the help of som...
04/10/2024
NEW YORK Derek Schnell, who since 2018 has served as news director of KCRA-TV and KQCA-TV, Hearst Television's NBC- and CW-affiliated stations in Sacrament...
04/10/2024
Samsung's Smart TVs are getting even smarter with the company's announcement this week that it is adding generative AI to its TV lineup....
04/10/2024
The nominees for the new Excellence in Production Technology are Christmas at Graceland, The Coronation of H.M. King Charles III and The Santa Clauses
By Jenny...
04/10/2024
Connell Pavey, co-programme leader for the University of Salford's new course in motion capture technology tells TVBEurope how his passion for creativity le...
04/10/2024
Eighteen Blackmagic Design Cameras Used for KIRINJI's 25th Anniversary Live ...
04/10/2024
WASHINGTON The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today it has awarded 30 grants to date through the first round of the Next Generation Warning...
04/10/2024
TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2024 NAB Show New York?...
04/10/2024
The Hollywood Professional Association Monday tapped a host of creative teams from high-profile projects as Creative Category Nominees in the 2024 HPA Awards, w...
04/10/2024
WASHINGTON The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has appointed Andy Hendrickson as its new chief technology officer, tasked with providing strategic and technical ad...
04/10/2024
TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2024 NAB Show New York?...
04/10/2024
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is introducing a new category for the 75th Technology & Engineering Awards t...
03/10/2024
A still from Daniel Barosa's Boi de Conchas (The Shell Covered Ox), which ...
03/10/2024
Have you ever hopped on a plane only to realize you forgot to download your favorite playlist? Are you looking for ways to save data with your data plan while s...
03/10/2024
The HPA Awards Committee today announced the nominees for the Creative Categorie...
03/10/2024
NEW YORK - October 2, 2024 - An estimated 43.15 million viewers watched the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate across 15 networks on Tuesday, October 1, accordin...
03/10/2024
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Supports Troy University's Art and Design Depart...
03/10/2024
Create With Maxon: Marble Run - Simulation and Rendering
Brie Clayton October 3, 2024
0 Comments
Wednesday, October 9th 4PM GMT / 6PM CET / 9AM Pacifi...
03/10/2024
Shattered Reflection in Resolve Fusion
Simon Ubsdell October 3, 2024
0 Comments
How to make a dramatic reflection scene in Fusion: render passes, shad...
03/10/2024
Student Spotlight: Rafael Heredia The flamenco percussionist is channeling the vibrant music scenes of Japan and Spain in his musical explorations at Berklee,...
03/10/2024
Berklee and Can We Talk Celebrate Healing Power of the Arts in BIPOC Communities Arts Activation 2024: Harmony and Healing (October 19) unites artists, thoug...
03/10/2024
NEW YORK An estimated 43.15 million viewers watched the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate across 15 networks on Tuesday, according to Nielsen. The first and onl...
03/10/2024
Its feature set is closer to what a vision mixer provides than to what operators traditionally expect from a downstream keying function, said the company
By Ma...
03/10/2024
QuickLink, empowering creatives to exceed modern-day standards of production, is launching the new QuickLink StudioPro Controller control panel at NAB New York...
03/10/2024
TAG Video Systems, the leader in software-based IP end-to-end workflow monitoring, deep probing, and real-time visualization, is presenting its Realtime Media P...
03/10/2024
Telestream and Starin, a value-add distributor of broadcast and pro AV products, are pleased to announce a distribution partnership to deliver Telestream's ...
03/10/2024
Vizrt, the leader in real-time graphics and live production solutions for content creators, today announces two new additions to the TriCaster family, TriCaster...
03/10/2024
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Radio Clodia has chosen a DHD SX2 audio mixing console and XC3 IP processing core in a major upgrade of the producti...
03/10/2024
DETROIT Waymark, a developer of AI video-creation technology, is launching Variations, a new technology that generates video ads in multiple lengths and aspec...
03/10/2024
Vizrt expands TriCaster possibilities with new flagship and entry-level solution...
03/10/2024
VFX Industry Veteran Joseph Bell Releases the Visual Effects World Atlas
Brie Clayton October 2, 2024
0 Comments
Long frustrated by the shortage of cl...
03/10/2024
With the WNBA's semifinal playoff round underway, and the first gender-equal...
03/10/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW Ink Multi-Year Media Rights Renewal That Includes...
03/10/2024
NEP Specialty Capture Improves Pylon Camera, Offers 4K Pan-and-Scan and Super-Sl...
03/10/2024
Diamond Sports Group Confirms Plans to Drop 11 of 12 MLB Teams, Indicates Potent...
03/10/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery's Chris Brown on Building REMI Control Rooms at the N...
03/10/2024
Back to All News
The Shadow Strays' Trailer Tease Dark Suspense and Intens...
03/10/2024
Back to All News
Uncover the Darkest Depths in Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and He...
03/10/2024
AMP8 award follows successful large-scale rollout to date
03 October, 2024 - Winchester, UK - A month after we announced that our smart water meter networks ac...
03/10/2024
Here, we introduce the clients who have embraced independent audits, implemented rigorous standards, and demonstrated a genuine dedication to improving the digi...
03/10/2024
On RT Prime Time tonight, Aoife Johnston's mother and father, Carol and Jam...
03/10/2024
The air is crisp, the pumpkins are waiting to be carved, and GFN Thursday is ready to deliver some gaming thrills.
GeForce NOW is unleashing a monster mash of ...
03/10/2024
AI isn't just about building smarter machines. It's about building a greener world.
From optimizing energy use to reducing emissions, AI and accelerate...
03/10/2024
Daniel O'Donnell | Sandy Kelly| Garron Noone| Lisa McHugh| Derek Ryan
Janet Devlin | Michael English | Margo | Mike Denver
Jimmy Buckley| Cliona Hagan | P...
02/10/2024
Aspiring actor Laura (Melissa Barrera) contends with a peculiar houseguest in wr...
The highly anticipated opus from director Quentin Tarantino doesn't disappoint. It's a typically outrageous conglomeration of comedy and shock laced with pop culture references to cult B movie film and TV shows, replete with a soundtrack of 1970s hits.
