Cinematographer Style (Jon Fauer, 2006)

[Dylan]

There is a great-sounding documentary making the rounds on great cinematographers called "Cinematographer Style."

The 90-minute documentary weaved a collage of commentaries by 110 cinematographers from 15 countries into a multi-faceted story about the universal art of telling stories with moving images. Jon Fauer, ASC produced, directed and photographed some 200 hours of dialogues with cinematographers who work in diverse sectors of the industry, including narrative films for television and the cinema, documentaries, music videos and commercials. He asked all of them the same questions about why and how they became cinematographers, who influenced or motivated them, the origins of the “looksâ€

[Jun-Dai]

I've enjoyed Visions of Light several times, once even in a theater, and I no longer think it's very good; it just happens to be the best there is on the subject (that I've heard of). Based on the description, it sounds like Cinematographer Style will surpass it--in fact, I'll be quite disappointed if it doesn't, since I think the bar is rather low.

My favorite part about Visions of Light is seeing so many great cinematographers in one place. Probably second are a few really cherishable anecdotes (such as the rain on the window making Blake's character appear to cry--I still haven't seen that film, even though it's been high up on my list ever since I saw Visions of Light), and third would be the numerous brief shots of well-lit films. Beyond that the film doesn't have much to offer, I feel. Certainly it's fairly weak in any educational sense.

[Dylan]

My only real complaints about "Visions of Light" are: (a) no coverage of Sven Nykvist, (b) the Gordon Willis segment only showcases faded and cropped clips from "Godfather" and a few shots from "Annie Hall," (c) no clips from "Heaven's Gate" or "The Deer Hunter," both of which I believe to be Zsigmond's very, very best work, and (d) very little coverage of foreign films (though it blessedly includes shots from "The Conformist"). Still, I think it's very much worth seeing, and I've admitedly watched it about ten times myself.

The thing about "Cinematographer Style" is that it appears from the trailer that it will function almost solely for real hardcore lovers of cinematography (people who get geeked up by "My name is Vilmos Zsigmond, and I'm a cinematographer" or Vittorio Storaro philosophizing with a light bulb in his hand). With that said, as a hardcore lover of cinematography, I'm sure I'll love it.

[Jeff]

I haven't seen Visions of Light, so I suppose can't really offer a fair comparison. That being said, I feel confident in saying that it must be better than Cinematographer Style. I saw it at a festival screening, and was profoundly disappointed. The film contains some very nicely lit talking heads, and absolutely nothing else. It begins with over 100 cinematographers saying "My name is _________ and I am a cinematographer" in a very quick montage. After that, their names are never referenced again. If you can't recognize cinematographers by sight, you'll have a hard time figuring out who is talking. There are no on-screen titles identifying the speaker. I could rattle off half a dozen films shot by John Toll, but I couldn't tell you what he had to say in this film because I couldn't tell which one was him. Don't come to this looking for anecdotes about specific films either. I could count on one hand the number of times a film was even mentioned by title. There are no film clips at all, not even any stills. I didn't gain an ounce of insight about the art of cinematography. I did manage to stay awake, which is more than I can say for many of my fellow audience members. I think that even the most hardcore cinephiles will find this obtuse. The only people I can think of that it might appeal to are those featured in it.

[exte]

...and (d) very little coverage of foreign films...

There's nothing of Kurosawa, though he's in the credits for some reason...

[Dylan]

I'm pretty sure there is a Kurosawa film included in the montage at the very end of "Visions of Light" (though I forgot which one). Also in that montage at the end is that great 360 shot from "Unbearable Lightness of Being" and a shot from "Blade Runner," among other films not discussed in the docu. Like many documentaries, these sections were probably filmed but just edited out (I mean, they must have had a section on Sven Nykvist, right?). If that is true, it's too bad the additional material didn't make it onto the BFI disc of "Visions."

And Jeff, definitely check out "Visions of Light." It's not perfect (no Nykvist), but it's very good.

[colinr0380]

Probably second are a few really cherishable anecdotes (such as the rain on the window making Blake's character appear to cry--I still haven't seen that film, even though it's been high up on my list ever since I saw Visions of Light).

Same here - In Cold Blood wasn't it?

...and (d) very little coverage of foreign films...

There's nothing of Kurosawa, though he's in the credits for some reason...

Could Kurosawa's presence in the credits have anything to do with the film being a US/Japanese co-production?

The new film sounds disappointing Jeff - how can you illustrate a cinematographer's craft without clips. It might still be interesting for the interviews but perhaps only with copies of the film to hand to compare with.

[leefarber]

There was a quick clip in "Visions of Light" that I haven't been able to place. It was a group of men sitting around a conference table, and suddenly the walls collapse around them and they are attacked by what appear to be ninjas.

Can someone PLEASE tell me what film this is from? Thanks!

[Gordon]

Lee, that clip is from Paul Schrader's masterful 1985 film, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. Cinematography by John Bailey (Ordinary People, Schrader's Cat People).

[leefarber]

Thank you so much, Gordon! I've been wondering for the past 13 years (since Visions of Light was released)! Gotta see the film...