AMERICAN FICTION | DP Cristina Dunlap | ShotDeck: Shot Talk

Lawrence Sher, ASC sits down with Cristina Dunlap for an in-depth discussion of the critically-acclaimed new film American Fiction. From the logistics of filming a feature film in under 30 days to how Cristina started her career, the two break down important moments behind the scenes of production that helped bring the film to life! Watch American Fiction in theaters now: https://mgm.com/titles/american-fiction/ Subscribe to our channel for more content like this! Also sign up for a FREE 2 Week ShotDeck account and use code HOLIDAY23 when you subscribe for a 35% Off discount: https://shotdeck.com/welcome/trial 00:00 : Intro 01:13 : How Cristina Met Director Cord Jefferson 03:37 : Preparing the Look Book and Creating a Cohesive Language 05:03 : Building a Visual Identity Together with the Director 06:55 : The Importance of Visual References to Communicate Ideas 09:08 : Shooting on Location with a Tight Schedule 11:05 : Scene Breakdown: The Book Symposium, Capturing a State of Mind on the Screen 12:33 : What to Look for in a Practical Location 15:44 : Managing Contrast Between Windows and a Dark Interior 16:44 : Choosing an Aspect Ratio and How It Influences the Shooting Strategy 18:16 : The Importance of Character Introductions 21:13 : Finding a Visual Metaphor for the Film 22:02 : Scene Breakdown: Driving Around Town, Using a Process Trailer 24:05 : Choosing the Right Lenses for the Job, the Blackwing Tribe 7 25:50 : How They Shot the Film in 26 Days 27:33 : Scene Breakdown: Walking Down the Beach, Using the Lighthouse as a Motivation 29:00 : Choosing the Right Steadicam 32:04 : Shooting the Final Scene on a Studio Lot and Making the Most Out the Location 32:58 : The Road to Become a Cinematographer 38:11 : Moving from Commercial and Music Videos to Feature Films 40:03 : The Importance of Building Relationships 42:09 : The Script That Changed Cristina’s Life 43:26 : Scene Breakdown: The Harvard Club, Lighting with Balloons 46:01 : Managing the Tone of the Film and Relatable Characters 50:09 : Use Challenges to Find New Narrative Opportunities 51:47 : Final Thoughts