The Dogfather-Frame Grabs

[Guest]

Here are actual frame grabs from The Dogfather. I just love the beautiful, glossy, commercial lighting from Denis Maloney, ASC, don't you?

 

Most of this is FUJI Eterna 500ASA, from the zoom lenses on the 535.

 

Looks like we come out swinging every where either January or March.

 

R,

[Kieran Scannell]

Here are actual frame grabs from The Dogfather. I just love the beautiful, glossy, commercial lighting from Denis Maloney, ASC, don't you?

 

Most of this is FUJI Eterna 500ASA, from the zoom lenses on the 535.

 

Looks like we come out swinging every where either January or March.

 

R,

 

 

The dog is gorgeous! I hope it goes well for you Richard!

[James Steven Beverly]

:D It looks great, man!

[James Steven Beverly]

I just checked out the trailers:

 

 

-I particular like the comment about the director on this one :rolleyes:

[Guest]

Yeah not the best trailer, that was a temp hack job for the film fest as a preview.

 

R,

[Adrian Sierkowski]

"director's a total hack job," sounds 'bout right ;)

 

Lookin' good Richard.

[Tim Tyler]

... the beautiful, glossy, commercial lighting from Denis Maloney, ASC,

 

The stills look great.

 

Any idea if Denis used filtration on any of those shots?

[Guest]

Yes, Denis used a wide range of filters for the shoot. I wish he was on here so he could tell us what his choices where and why, etc?

 

I'm a retired DOP so I don't have any idea. :blink:

 

I'm going to bug him some more to join.

 

R,

[Guest]

Here's a few more. Denis is very very consistent as you can see.

 

A note, Gabe (the star bulldog) started his career doing greeting cards and was trained to balance hats on his head. He loves wearing hats and never tries to shake them off, he'll hold the hat on his head for you as long as you like. Gabe also won the Nickeloden Funniest Dog In America contest, which was televised. If that's not enough when this movie hits Gabe will be 100X more famous than he is now.

 

FYI, Gabe had his own air-conditioned trailer on set, while I had no trailer.

 

R,

[Guest]

The stills look great.

 

Any idea if Denis used filtration on any of those shots?

 

Denis informs me:

 

"I used only the Tiffen 1/2 SoftEFX and Tiffen 1 SoftEFX filters."

[Guest Tim Partridge]

Richard,

 

As a former cameraman, to what extent was your involvement in the cinematography of Dogfather? Did you ever find yourself being very specific and dictatorial about shots and lighting? Do you think that your priorities have changed as a filmmaker working at this level? Apologies if these questions have been asked and answered previously.

 

By the way, I agree that the stills look very impressive, with what looks like good costume/production design too to compliment the slick cinematography. I love what appears to be a nod to Willis with the mafia boss shot! :)

[Guest]

Richard,

 

As a former cameraman, to what extent was your involvement in the cinematography of Dogfather? Did you ever find yourself being very specific and dictatorial about shots and lighting? Do you think that your priorities have changed as a filmmaker working at this level? Apologies if these questions have been asked and answered previously.

 

I gave Denis general guide lines, he basically took it from there and lit the entire show. He and his crew frantically set up lights for the next scene with little to no input from me. My priorities where mainly working with the actors and blocking. Second priority was answering the bazzilion questions a day from various depts, how big should this be? What colour should this be? When's lunch?

 

If there was a lighting set up that I felt wasn't right, of course I would of said some thing to Denis, but this never happened.

 

By the way, I agree that the stills look very impressive, with what looks like good costume/production design too to compliment the slick cinematography. I love what appears to be a nod to Willis with the mafia boss shot! :)

 

More than a nod to Willis, I wanted an exact copy. :D

 

That was the one scene where I was heavily involved in the lighting. The location was partially chosen so that we could access a large room and block all the windows. Then Denis and his team rigged up a beautiful combination of overhead lighting for that room. Of course only adults familiar with the 1972 film will get the "joke" kids will never know and they'll never care either. It just looks nice.

 

R,

[Guest Tim Partridge]

Thank you for the reply, Richard.

 

I look forward to catching this film. :)

[Tim Tyler]

"I used only the Tiffen 1/2 SoftEFX and Tiffen 1 SoftEFX filters."

 

Thx. I need to get some of those. I've achieved a similar look with a Glimmer Glass + BPM, but it looks like the SoftEFX might retain contrast better.