At a recent interview, ASC, Adam Kimmel, disclosed an approach that he took in one of his most recent shoots, a CNN / Netflix comedy series. Kimmel, A well respected Cinematographer (Director of Photography (DOP/DP) for several years, is always happy to talk about his perspective and also the advantage of his expertise with his coworkers and students. Find out more about his job at the following link and the famous cinematographer: Adam Kimmel DOP.
Though the approaches to stand up comedy shoots are relatively well established and have been for quite a while, Adam Kimmel has shown once again that innovation is always welcome from the industry. During a recent shoot for Colin Quinn’s Red State, Blue State, Kimmel opted to work with the Alexa LF cameras of Arri, complemented by their signature primes. Although this mix produces an image, using also the chance of more shallow depth of field aesthetics and also immersive, it’s an unusual approach for a stand-up show.
Regardless of this, Kimmel followed through with this approach, saying,”It might not be the typical way to take a live stand-up display, as you could generally lean toward the versatility of zooms and cameras that are cellular. Since we staged this at a theatre up, I didn’t want people who were seated on the point and five or six feet from Colin to be distractingly in focus. I felt that the content and style of what Colin do lent itself to staging it with him surrounded by the crowd and functioning much nearer to, and with a fixed and more observational camera mode. Owing to that, as well as the benefit of the shallower focus of the LF and prime lenses, I gave up the flexibility of zooms and moving cameras and, I must say, I’m quite pleased we went this way.” Learn more here.
Using this combination of cameras and lenses was not an easy endeavor. 2 collections of Signature Primes and five Alexa LF’s were sourced from ABLE Cameras in New York. “All these Signature primes were still entirely new and hard to get, so we needed to plan how to utilize five cameras and just two sets of lenses to get a live show. “I was really considerate of my placement of cameras along with choice of focal lengths because I didn’t need to be altering prime lenses in the middle of this show. Additionally, that I didn’t want to see different cameras and since we were shooting at 360 °, it made sense to maintain the profiles compact and the cameras fixed. Director Bobby Moresco was so delighted with the appearance, and the coverage I was able to offer him and everyone involved seems to adore the way the show was”
Employing the larger format lenses and cameras also facilitated certain aspects of post production,”I asked DIT Dave Satin to adjust the framework lines so I would have a framework within the sensor that enabled me a room over and under the image, so I could make slight alterations to the framing to smooth out the cuts in the edit. I am very sensitive to things like the gaps in the mind room or in which the eyes are in the frame Whenever you have five cameras shooting one individual. By having a little room to adjust – I could smooth out anything that I believed was jarring”.
He expects upcoming releases of new equipment to ease similar productions going ahead, as he states,”I have been to the demonstration of their ALEXA Mini LF and can’t wait for all those cameras to become available. Still, I have to mention this one all went well, thanks in no small part to Mike Nichols and AbelCine’s support. It was a lot to inquire on short notice, and I felt cared for”
Adam Kimmel was part of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences since 2007 and the American Society of Cinematographers since 2008. He’s shot getting two Independent Spirit nominations and a BAFTA shortlisting for cinematography. His filmography includes Bennett Miller’s Capote (5 Academy Award nominations including best film and the best actor win for Phillip Seymour Hoffman). He is also known for Lars and The Real Girl, Never Allow Me to Go, and Jesus’ Son, as well as a now untitled Bennett Miller project.
Those interested in learning more about Adam Kimmel can browse the content printed by Jax Media on their own blog. It contains the part of the interview, together with additional comments from members of this production. More information is available here: Adam Kimmel American Cinematographer.
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