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Visions of Light

Visions of Light

The Art of Cinematography

19927.01h 32m

Overview

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

Directed by Stuart Samuels
Written by Todd McCarthy
0

Top Cast

Ernest R. Dickerson

Ernest R. Dickerson

Self

Michael Chapman

Michael Chapman

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Allen Daviau

Allen Daviau

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Caleb Deschanel

Caleb Deschanel

Self

Lisa Rinzler

Lisa Rinzler

Self

Conrad Hall

Conrad Hall

Self

William A. Fraker

William A. Fraker

Self

John Bailey

John Bailey

Self

Néstor Almendros

Néstor Almendros

Self

C

Charles Rosher Jr.

Self

Themes & Keywords

cinematographerfilmmakingfilm productioncinema historyart documentary

About Visions of Light

Visions of Light is a documentary, history film released in 1992 exploring themes of cinematographer, filmmaking, film production, cinema history, art documentary. Directed by Stuart Samuels, it stars Ernest R. Dickerson, Michael Chapman, Allen Daviau. Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

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