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
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
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.
