Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

DP Logan Schneider on Drunk History

26/03/2019

Created by Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner, the Emmy Award-winning Drunk History features inebriated historians recounting historical events to Waters, while they are re-enacted by well-known actors. When Blake McClure, the cinematographer with the show since its 2013 inception, left for another opportunity, Logan Schneider, who had shot music videos with Konner, was brought on board to shoot Season 5-and brought his ALEXA Mini and ARRI Master Primes with him.

The biggest challenge initially, says Schneider, was matching the high bar that McClure had set. He did a really good job, he says. We light it like a movie and want each story to feel like you're into a different time and place. Blake kept away from flat comedy lighting and added a lot of character. I wanted to maintain that quality of work but push it forward in my own way. I did certain things to continue his lighting style and, as I got more comfortable in the show, I evolved from where he left it.

One of the first things he did change was to move the show to an ALEXA Mini. I was happy [the producers] were willing to make the switch, says Schneider. I feel so much more comfortable with ARRI. Maintaining the quality of the look established by McClure-which Schneider describes as a mix of atmosphere, backlight, contrast and very clean -while also trying to distinguish the look of each episode's three stories and shooting nine to 10 pages a day was, he says, the battle. We had 42 stories in 42 days, and we had to try something different but appropriate for each story, he says. The Mini

was the right choice because of the 4:3 sensor let us do higher frame rates and any format we threw at it. The internal filters also saved me a huge amount of time.

The combination of the ALEXA Mini and Master Primes helped achieve the mandate of a different look for each story. I like the Master Primes because I can expose them lower on the curve, says Schneider. The lenses create that really clean feeling. One nice thing about this show is that what's in front of the lens is so good, I don't have to hide it with flares or funky lenses. The great sets plus the characteristics and beauty of the lenses is quite a joy.

Schneider used the Master Primes for all three stories that comprise Drunk Mystery, episode seven of Season 5. That episode's stories featured the disappearance of Agatha Christie; the anonymous writer that terrified Circleville, Ohio; and the hijacker dubbed D.B. who was never caught. All three segments were shot with Master Primes, says Schneider. It let me light them a little softer and expose them a little darker and still get all the information, while giving it a moodier vibe. It was nice to have that option.

The ARRI Master Anamorphics also played a starring role to create a 1960s look for an episode on Gloria Steinem. Broad City's Abbi Jacobson plays the young journalist who goes undercover as a Playboy bunny in the Manhattan Playboy Club in 1963. I used them on a music video eight months ago, and realized they want to be under exposed a half-stop, he says. They're sharp and there's so much resolution that the contrast and color separation works better a little bit under-it doesn't need the extra luminance. Once I understood that, they were amazing lenses.

Narrated by ESPN host/comedian Katie Nolan, the episode also stars Jane Krakowski as a bunny mother. The Master Anamorphics created a cleaner image [than the other lenses we were using], he says. It just felt right. We were using natural window light for part of it, and the flare kit added a bit of the lens effects for a really nice blend. I'm hoping I can use them more this year in conjunction with the Master Primes.

For so many years we had all these film stocks and processes, Schneider says. Now, lenses are the paintbrush, and the lenses we used were a nice counterpoint to each other. It was really fun to have that ability, in conjunction with the Mini sensor and functionality. Between seasons, Schneider took his Master Primes to shoot a documentary in Costa Rica and then onto Season 6 of Drunk History.

With the Master Primes onboard as our full-time spherical set for Season 6, we were able to do our best work every day, he says. Having the sharpness, neutral palette and faster T-stop of the Master Primes helped me find simple and natural lighting solutions that supported the narrative and intention of each episode.

For so many years we had all these film stocks and processes. Now, lenses are the paintbrush.

DP Logan Schneider

In an episode depicting Mary Shelley (played by Evan Rachel Wood), Dr. Frankenstein (Seth Rogan) and Frankenstein's monster (Will Ferrell), Schneider captured the Shelley portion in digital anamorphic, while the Frankenstein story shot on Kodak 5222 35mm black and white film with an ARRICAM LT. Master Primes were the obvious choice for the spherical segment, he says. It was incredible to look through the viewfinder and the Master Primes at Ferrell in full monster makeup.

Video: The Drunk History episode about Gloria Steinem, captured on ALEXA Mini with Master Anamorphics.

Photos: Garret Curtis

Related Products ALEXA Mini

Master Prime Lenses
LINK: https://www.arri.com/en/company/arri-news/news-stories/news-stories-20...
See more stories from arri

Most recent headlines

09/11/2025

Dalet Unveils Agentic AI Media Workflows at IBC2025

Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...

04/11/2025

Q&A with Music Alum Andrew van der Paardt

Q&A with Music Alum Andrew van der Paardt The oboist and English horn player reports back from the pit of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, and tells how he...

03/11/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Inside the Sports Rights Landscape (and the new IMG) with Andrew Demsey, IMG SVP, North America Rights

SVG Sit-Down: Inside the Sports Rights Landscape (and the new IMG) with Andrew D...

03/11/2025

Challenging the Norm: How TNT Sports is Evolving Coverage of the Men's and Women's FA Cups With a Fresh Approach

Challenging the norm: How TNT Sports is evolving coverage of the men's and w...

03/11/2025

Inspired Storytelling: TNT Sports' Pete Thomas on Creating Opportunities Out of Challenges for the FA Cups

Inspired storytelling: TNT Sports' Pete Thomas on creating opportunities out...

03/11/2025

NBA 2K League Returns With New Format Featuring NBA Players, Creators, and Fans

NBA 2K League Returns With New Format Featuring NBA Players, Creators, and FansSeason will include online tournaments, in-person events, and open-ladder fan com...

03/11/2025

Live on the Water: The Rowing Channel Pulls Off Historic Production at Head Of The Charles Regatta

Live on the Water: The Rowing Channel Pulls Off Historic Production at Head Of T...

03/11/2025

L3Harris and ESL Labs: A Strategic Investment in Canada's Defence Future

Strategic partnership to expand specialized testing equipment, advance national security and support regional economic growth...

03/11/2025

How Will the FCC's Busy Fall Agenda Impact Broadcasters?

In less than two weeks during late September and early October, the Federal Communications Commission acted on two proposed rulemakings that could have an enorm...

03/11/2025

NAB's Josh Miely Named VP of Technology, Programming and Education

Josh Miely is returning to a more hands-on radio and TV role with the National Association of Broadcasters....

03/11/2025

All You Need to Know About MXL

Broadcasters have spent years trying to integrate different vendor technologies in their facilities. As the industry has moved closer to software, that struggle...

03/11/2025

The Battle to Protect Broadcast Content From AI Has Just Begun

As the malevolent siege against broadcasters' interests intensifies from the far reaches of artificial intelligence misuse to relentless innovation in the m...

03/11/2025

Gary Snow Plans to Retire From Wheatstone

Wheatstone founder and owner Gary Snow will retire from the company by the end of next year....

03/11/2025

Hybrid, AI Are Guiding the Measurement of TV Viewership

In ye olde days of traditional television, when U.S. TV viewing options were limited to ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS, Nielsen's paper diaries were sufficient for t...

03/11/2025

NVIDIA Partners Bring Physical AI, New Smart City Technologies to Dublin, Ho Chi Minh City, Raleigh and More

Two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities or other urban c...

03/11/2025

Trailer & poster unveiled for Sky Original festive family feature film Tinsel Town

Monday 3 November 2025 To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. ...

03/11/2025

Rohde & Schwarz acquires open source intelligence specialist Munich Innovation Labs GmbH

Rohde & Schwarz acquires open source intelligence specialist Munich Innovation L...

03/11/2025

Rohde & Schwarz launches revolutionary super wideband mobile network scanner, setting new standard for 5G

Rohde & Schwarz launches revolutionary super wideband mobile network scanner, se...

03/11/2025

Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver to cut costs, accelerate time to market

Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver to cut costs, ac...

03/11/2025

A4ESSOR and OCCAR sign new procurement contract to advance development of interoperable tactical communication

A4ESSOR and OCCAR sign new procurement contract to advance development of intero...

03/11/2025

Sitep Australia joins Rohde & Schwarz team for Hunter class frigate communications

Sitep Australia joins Rohde & Schwarz team for Hunter class frigate communicatio...

03/11/2025

Famke Janssen Stars as Betty Jonkers in "Forever Pour Toujours" Music Video

Back to All News Famke Janssen Stars as Betty Jonkers in "Forever Pour Toujours" Music Video Entertainment 03 November 2025 GlobalNetherlandsBelgium Link c...

03/11/2025

Red Seat Ventures and The 33rd Team Announce Exclusive Sales Partnership

Red Seat Ventures and The 33rd Team Announce Exclusive Sales Partnership Red Seat Ventures to Spearhead Sales Representation for The 33rd Team's Dynamic S...

03/11/2025

Brand New RT Documentary Series Tonight New RT Documentary Series Trackers: The People v The Banks

They've made that decision and ruined an awful lot of people's lives. ...

02/11/2025

Space42 Expands Earth Observation Constellation, Foresight, with Launch of Three New SAR Satellites

Abu Dhabi, UAE November 2, 2025: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powe...

01/11/2025

Thunderbolt 3 and Symphony MkII

Thunderbolt 3 Now Standard on Symphony MkII - Starting November 11 Beginning November 11, all new Apogee Symphony I/O MkII units will ship with Thunderbolt 3 as...

01/11/2025

Expanding Symphony Desktop Using ADAT

How to Expand the Apogee Symphony Desktop with Cranborne 500ADAT Want to expand your Symphony Desktop beyond two inputs? Whether you're tracking a full drum...

01/11/2025

aconnic AG releases Half Year Financial Report 2025 and implements Change Measures

aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has published the Financial Report for ...

01/11/2025

tvONE and Matrox Video Partner to Deliver Flawless AV-ove...

tvONE is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Matrox Video, combining CALICO PRO's high-performance video processing with the Matrox ConvertIP Ser...

01/11/2025

CJP Broadcast Joins Grass Valley Partner Programme to Str...

CJP Broadcast has joined the Grass Valley partner programme as both a Systems Integration Partner and AMPP Partner. The collaboration enhances CJP's ability...

01/11/2025

TAG Video Systems Earns Dual Recognition for ESG Initiati...

TAG Video Systems, the leader in software-based IP end-to-end workflow monitoring, deep probing, and real-time visualization, has earned a higher-rated DPP Comm...

01/11/2025

Operative Announces New CEO to Drive Next Phase of Growth

Michael Napodano Appointed New CEO Of Operative Media Operative today announced the appointment of Mike Napodano as Chief Executive Officer, marking the next s...

01/11/2025

Cine Gear Expo Atlanta 2025 Success at Trilith Studios

Film industry professionals flocked to Cine Gear Expo Atlanta 2025 at celebrated Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, on October 3 and 4. Back for its 6th ...

01/11/2025

Christopher Ross BSC and 300 Asteras Light the Border Cro...

Photo courtesy of Peacock and Sky Christopher Ross, BSC, began his cinematic obsession early. He cites reading Scorsese on Scorsese as a teenager with teaching...

01/11/2025

ITN, Magnite Launch New Private Marketplace for Local Linear TV

NEW YORK ITN and the sell-side advertising company Magnite have announced the launch of what they are billing as the industrys first Local Linear TV Private Mar...

01/11/2025

Netflix Unveils Operation Safed Sagar' at the Inaugural Sekhon Indian Air Force Marathon 2025

Back to All News Netflix Unveils Operation Safed Sagar' at the Inaugural S...

01/11/2025

Netflix Announces Partnership With Yash Raj Films, Bringing Iconic Bollywood Titles to the Platform

Back to All News Netflix Announces Partnership With Yash Raj Films, Bringing Ic...

31/10/2025

FanDuel Sports Network To Deliver Selected Live NBA, NHL Games to Major Streaming Services for In-Market Viewers

FanDuel Sports Network To Deliver Selected Live NBA, NHL Games to Major Streamin...

31/10/2025

NBC Jumps Out of the Gate in Extended Breeder's Cup Deal With Dual Drones, Jockey Cams, RF Super-Mo

NBC Jumps Out of the Gate in Extended Breeder's Cup Deal With Dual Drones, J...

31/10/2025

Tribute: Remembering Segomotso Keorapetse (28 May 1968 22 October 2025)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 October 2025 It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Segomotso Keorapetse, an award- winning South African television d...

31/10/2025

Nexstar Extends Chairman and CEO Perry Sook Through 2029

IRVING, Texas As station groups move into an era that promises rapid tech, regulatory and economic changes, Nexstar Media Group said its board has extended chai...

31/10/2025

Late Night Thrives on Social Media With Billions of Views in 2025

While some analysts have questioned the ongoing economic viability of broacast-TV late night shows amid ongoing declines in linear viewing, new data from Tubula...

31/10/2025

Disney Programming Dropped From YouTube TV

The contentious contract negotiations between The Walt Disney Co. and YouTube TV have resulted in a blackout of Disney-owned programming on the pay TV operator....

31/10/2025

tvONE Integrates CALICO PRO Video Processing With Matrox ConvertIP Series

CINCINNATI Video conversion and AV signal distribution specialist tvONE and Matrox Video have struck a strategic partnership, combining CALICO PRO's video p...

31/10/2025

IAB Urges Standards for CTV Ad Measurement

NEW YORK The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) today released a new industry guide that discusses the urgency of adopting new standards that will help advert...

31/10/2025

Late Night Shows Thrive on Social Media with Billions of Views in 2025

While some analysts have questioned the ongoing economic viability of late night shows on broadcast TV amid ongoing declines in linear viewing, new data from Tu...

31/10/2025

Berklee Celebrates the Inauguration of President Jim Lucchese

Berklee Celebrates the Inauguration of President Jim Lucchese In his inaugural address, Lucchese shared an optimistic vision for Berklee's future as a for...

31/10/2025

Family, Food, and Films: Netflix's 'Dining with the Kapoors' Arrives November 21

Back to All News Family, Food, and Films: Netflix's Dining with The Kapoors...

31/10/2025

DPA 4055 Featured in Technologies for Worship Magazine

The review highlights DPA 4055 Kick Drum Microphone for its compact design, ease of placement, and authentic tone that captures the true character of the drum p...