Creative COW with Erik Messerschmidt: A Labor of Light
data-src=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c562aaf4-bpthumb.jpg data-srcset=https://creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/avatars/263018/5fa08c561c0e7-bpfull.jpg 2x class=lazyload avatar avatar-80 photo height=80 width=80 />
Brie Clayton May 14, 2021
0 Comments
Mank could have easily been a parody of old school Hollywood, but Erik Messerschmidt and David Fincher weren't going to let that happen. They went for broke on thoroughly reproduced sets, meticulous lighting, smoke filled offices, energetic conversations, and characters that breathe.
Once Mank opens its first scene, the scenery and intelligent dialogue make it hard to look away. As much as I thought I knew about San Simeon, having grown up ten minutes away from Hearst Castle, it was exciting to look into the bygone era when this California location was a lively hotbed of social chemistry, and parties, and movie creation, rather than just a stale museum where no one can touch the furniture.
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-1024x466.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2410245 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-1024x466.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-300x137.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-768x349.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-624x284.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-50x23.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200-100x46.jpg 100w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043251/Mank_Reel1_OnlineGrade_NoGrain_cropped_v23.0035306_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />
When preparing to speak with Erik Messerschmidt, I would almost get lost working back through the layers of filmmakers contributing to this story. Mank pays homage to the legend Gregg Toland's game-changing eye for cinematography. The dynamism between Toland, Orson Welles and the writer Herman J. Mankiewicz would be recrafted 80 years later by this modern team of David Fincher and Erik Messerschmidt, with Jack Fincher writing the screenplay.
In mid April 2021 Erik Messerschmidt took the ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography, and then in May, deservedly, the Best Achievement in Cinematography Oscar for his lensing of the period piece Mank.
Despite his youthful appearance, Erik's film career has already spanned decades, working his way up through the ranks as a grip, an electrician, and a number of years as a gaffer. Some of his gaffer work included Gone Girl, as well as DP on Mindhunter, with Fincher, further developing that relationship till the day when David asked Erik if he wanted to shoot this next project, Mank, and Erik said Of course I want to shoot the movie!
Mank, Erik's first cinematography role outside of television, his first movie as DP, has won multiple awards this year. What kind of heavenly dream must that be for any cinematographer? Who hits a grand slam at their first baseball game?
data-src=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-1024x684.jpg alt= class=lazyload wp-image-2410241 data-srcset=https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-300x200.jpg 300w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-768x513.jpg 768w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-624x417.jpg 624w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-50x33.jpg 50w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200-100x67.jpg 100w, https://gcs.creativecow.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/14043101/DEC_10_00375_1200.jpg 1200w data-sizes=(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px />
I'd like to congratulate you, this is quite an accomplishment in a very short period of time. You must be blown away by the whole thing!
Erik Messerschmidt: Yeah it's been overwhelming. It's pretty special, and humbling for sure.
I can tell you, honestly, I knew that you were going to win, but that's just between me and you.
Erik: (laughs)
How did you make this step from television to film?
Erik: I've been going between feature films and and television and commercials as a crew member for a couple decades, and I never differentiated much between films and television, other than just what the realities of the storytelling was.
If television is different from feature films, it's because of the length. I mean, I think particularly today we are somewhat living in the golden the Golden Age of television. The step from television to feature film isn't isn't always a step up as it is often, or certainly as it has been considered in the past. It is considered a side step in many ways.
But, do you see a difference in the setups that you do for your television shots compared to what you would do for Mank?
Erik: Well, we had more time to make the movie. And in terms of page count, that is for sure true. But, that that didn't lead to any more time for the cinematographer I can assure you! (laughs). I used every bit of the available time we had, and I would
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
13/06/2026
Latest expansion pack includes 252 presets
Devious Machines have recently introduced another expansion for their powerful multi-effects plug-in, Infiltrator...
13/06/2026
Create custom DAW/plug-in controllers using prompts
MetaGrid have recently introduced an all-new AI Builder function to their touchscreen-based control surf...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production, Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it has given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what o...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
AgentPerf from Artificial Analysis, the industry's first agentic AI benchmark, gives developers, enterprises and infrastructure providers a clear way to com...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from Villaflor, Santiago Mitre's New Film
Entertainment
12 June 2026
GlobalArgentina
Link copied to ...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Cross the Boundaries of the Real World into the Spirit Realm i...
12/06/2026
With John Daro, DI Colourist at Warner Bros. Water Tower Color Tuesday 23 June, 10am-1pm or 3-6pm
Restar Corporation
Tokyo
Register here
John Daro is the ...
Creative COW with Erik Messerschmidt: A Labor of Light 
