Notes from Christopher Doyle’s public talk on April 24, 2017 at Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
- Experience of cinema is about community, family.
2. In filmmaking process “the problem” is ”the answer”.
3. Give that space, trust to share with audience. Actor — cinematographer — audience.
4. Look up ‘Fundamentally Happy’ film. Moving lights to symbolize passing time. Reflections for suicidal.
5. Location is important. Location suggests the film. Chris’ specialty.
6. Western’s “film as written” or by-the-script is not good. Film has to go beyond the script e.g. ‘Paranoid Park’ started as 20-pages script.
7. Embrace color scheme of things at location.
8. Look up Caravaggio camera obscura during Renaissance.
9. Film budget is an artistic decision too. Too much can affect the “artness”.
10. Used Lensbaby for soft edge in ‘Tilda Swinton’ short.
11. Relationship with cast is important.
12. Human eyes move a lot. Chris’ cam moves a lot.
13. “Space, movement, energy.”
14. Patience, simplicity. It’s not all about you.
15. Light is also an emotion.
16. Push the limits. Look up Steve McQueen’s ‘Hunger’.
17. Cinematography is the portal between intention and understanding.
18. Look up Mark Cousins’ ‘The Story of Film’.
19. “Based on a true story”? Everything is true. The light, camera, etc. What is true to you? Find it and share. If not, don’t make films.
20. Don’t make “it’s only a movie” kind of movie.
