Tag: Video Essay

Film 101: Why James Wong Howe Is One of Hollywood’s Greatest Cinematographers

Turner Classic Movies
May 1, 2023

“My aesthetic has always been tied to the Gordon Willises of the world, the Jordan Cronenweths, the Conrad Halls, the James Wong Howes… the people who took risks.”

David Fincher
‘Seven‘ Criterion Laserdisc commentary, 1996

This May on TCM, we’re celebrating the work of groundbreaking cinematographer James Wong Howe. In this episode of Film 101, we explore how his techniques transformed cinema, the personal and professional obstacles he had to overcome, and why his work on films such as ‘He Ran All the Way’ (1951), ‘Picnic’ (1955), ‘Sweet Smell of Success’ (1957), and ‘Hud’ (1963) are celebrated to this day.

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Why Making ‘Panic Room’ was Fincher’s Nightmare

Daniel Netzel
April 20, 2023

Panic Room is one of David Fincher‘s unsung masterpieces, at least as far as thrillers are concerned. It was a logistical nightmare to put everything on screen, and this video essay breaks down elements of its direction, editing, and staging to understand all of the magic behind the scenes, and why it’s so good at creating tension.

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The David Fincher Process: 1st Assistant Editor’s POV

Sven Pape, ACE
June 11, 2022
This Guy Edits

The editing and post-production of David Fincher‘s Mank.

Netflix’s Mank was leading 2021 Oscars nominations with 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. First assistant editor Ben Insler opens up the editing timeline of the film and shares insights on the editing and workflow process.

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This Guy Edits on Patreon, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.

The Most Criminally Underrated Home Invasion Thriller

Ryan Hollinger
May 30, 2022
Ryan Hollinger (YouTube)

This show celebrates Ryan’s love for film, games, art and entertainment through personal retrospective analysis that aims to explore what made them so good.

Time stamps:

00:00: The Story & Characters
04:20: The Intense Filmmaking
08:37: The Panic Room Explained
12:27: Ending Spoilers

Sources:

“Home(land) Invasion: Poe, Panic Rooms, and 9/11”

John Kitterman
May 1, 2003
Wiley

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David Fincher’s “The Goon”. Development Hell

Andrew S. Baldwin
January 30, 2022
Supervoid Cinema (YouTube)

The Unmaking Of Movies. In-depth accounts of the ‘Greatest Movies Never Made’, Prominent ‘what ifs?’. Behind the scenes looks at canceled movies, lost projects, and the reasons why some projects went down in flames of development hell… Superman, Batman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, He-Man, Aliens, Hellboy, Robocop, and many more!

David Fincher has long been signed to produce a movie adaptation of Eric Powell‘s cult comic book: The Goon, published by Dark Horse, to be co-directed by Tim Miller and Jeff Fowler of Blur Studios with an original screenplay by Powell.

Video contains test animation for the David Fincher / Blur Studios / Dark Horse Entertainment produced film The Goon. Based on the Dark Horse Comic series by Eric Powell. Clancy Brown and Paul Giamatti provided the voices for this test. All artwork & footage belongs to its respective creators.

I am Sitting in a Room, Listening to Mank

Cormac Donnelly
October 2021
Screenworks

This video essay examines the innovative use of sound recording and mixing in David Fincher’s Mank (2020). Whilst Mank received a limited theatrical release, the film is most widely available via the Netflix streaming platform. The essay takes as a starting point the rerecording and spatialisation of the soundtrack, with a focus on the home viewing experience. Donnelly argues that the re-recording process used on Mank’s soundtrack could potentially suggest a method by which films released into the domestic market could retain the reverberant sonic signature of cinematic exhibition. The published screenwork draws upon interviews with Fincher’s sound designer Ren Klyce, as well as the work of experimental composer, Alvin Lucier in order to better understand the experience of listening to Mank in our own rooms.

Watch the video essay and read the research statement

Read the original in-depth interview with Ren Klyce:

Making Mank’s Vintage Hollywood-Magic Sound

Why Does It Always Rain In David Fincher’s Films?

Gray Kotzé (Director of Photography)
November 7, 2021
In Depth Cine

After watching a few David Fincher films I realised that one way he presents a cinematic world which is an exaggerated version of real life is through the weather.

0:00: Introduction
0:50: Seven
4:08: Sponsored Message
5:06: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
7:48: The Social Network
9:00: Conclusion

Music:
Rhythm Scott – ‘Tribal Splash’
Dear Gravity – ‘Finish Remember Begin Again’
Doug Kauffman – ‘The River Brethren’
We Dream Of Eden – ‘After the Storm’
Ottom – ‘Quiet Street’

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Gear I use: YouTube Gear, Editing Software, Music, Stock Footage, Cinematography Gear

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Cinematography Style: Jeff Cronenweth

Gray Kotzé (Director of Photography)
October 17, 2021
In Depth Cine

In this edition I’ll look at Jeff Cronenweth, who, to a large extent, is responsible for popularising a style of ‘dark cinematography’, through his work on movies such as Fight Club or The Social Network.

0:00: Introduction
1:03: Background
2:36: Philosophy
5:23: Sponsored Message
6:18: Gear
11:57: Conclusion

Music:
Liquid Memoirs – ‘Through The Portal’
Bosnow – ‘Bangkok Rain’
Liquid Memoirs – ‘Altered States’
Salt Of The Sound – ‘Awake My Soul’
Liquid Memoirs – ‘Hazy Evenings’
Ottom – ‘Raining In Kyoto’
Trevor Kowalski – ‘Katydid’

Source: Fight Club (American Cinematographer, November 1999)

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In Depth Cine: Official IDC Merch, Patreon, YouTube, Instagram, Discord, Facebook

Gear I use: YouTube Gear, Editing Software, Music, Stock Footage, Cinematography Gear

DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with these links I may receive a small commission without an additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free videos!

3 Things That Working With Jeff Cronenweth Taught Me About Cinematography

Gray Kotzé (Director of Photography)
June 19, 2020
In Depth Cine