Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 3, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC has passed away. He was one of the most influential cinematographers in the world, and for me personally. Seeing "Close Encounters" opened my eyes to what cinematography can add to a motion picture -- if anyone thinks that lighting is important to a story, here was a story where the lighting itself was a character and was the story. I've probably stolen ideas and techniques from him as much as anyone, maybe more. "Heaven's Gate" was a big influence on me when I went off to Montana to shoot "Northfork". One of the sad things about growing older is seeing your childhood heroes pass away. He will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill DiPietra Posted January 3, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 I heard about this on Bill Bennett's Twitter feed just a few minutes ago. He was one of the last master craftsmen and I was happy to see that he was still shooting. For me, the simplicity of his photography and his commitment to story is what defined much of his work. Like Haskell Wexler, he left a stunning legacy behind for future film-makers to learn from. He will indeed be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Tyler Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 From 2014: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill DiPietra Posted January 3, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 I watched a lot of his films when I was studying film in college and the one that made the biggest impression on me was The Deer Hunter (1978.) This has to be my favorite image from the film. Coupled with the mournful hymn that is played during this scene, it epitomizes how a powerful image can evoke such an intense, emotional response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny N Suleimanagich Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I recently saw a 35mm release print of “The Long Goodbye” – among my favorites – and even after having seen it several times before, I found something new and fleeting about the quality of his work on that film. I continue to think about the luscious way those Southern California exteriors were done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted January 3, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 WOW so sad! Just hearing this for the first time! I absolutely love his work, for sure one of my favorite DP's. Though I admit, 'Close Encounters' is where I first recognized his work as a youth. It wasn't until I was older that I caught up on his older films. It's truly unfortunate he didn't continue working with Spielberg because the end product of their not so eye to eye collaboration, was brilliant in both cases. He did repeat work with some amazing directors over the years however and in between he took on much smaller films, which was always interesting to me. Even though it's a loss to the industry, his legacy will live forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted January 3, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 A true legend and with a tremendous legacy. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignacio Aguilar Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Rest in peace. He was a great cinematographer. "Close Encounters" and "Heaven's Gate" are personal favourites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Velez Jr Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 heavens gate might be the best looking movie ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Holland Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 All of the above +"Deliverance" sad day . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Gregory Irwin Posted January 4, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 4, 2016 I've worked for Vilmos. He was a wonderful human being. Cinema has lost an icon along with another icon named Haskell. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted January 5, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 5, 2016 Incredible that Vilmos was still actively working and has 7 projects listed as upcoming on IMDb. His first cinematography credit was in 1953. You don't see those kinds of careers anymore! RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Fettig Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Not one of the best movies ever made, but the shot is among the most beautiful to ever grace the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted January 7, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 7, 2016 Zac, that is allegedly the most expensive second unit shot ever. They waited almost a year, to where the sun would align perfectly next to the twin towers and they had two passes with Concorde before it had to peel away. Film flopped, but that shot will always be there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 7, 2016 Author Premium Member Share Posted January 7, 2016 That shot was done by 2nd Unit Director Eric Schwab -- I don't know who the DP was, maybe Jon Fauer, who is listed as DP for the credit sequence. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I was just looking at his work, and then this happened. He did look a bit frail in the most recent photos. Rest in peace. He will be missed. Could somebody tell me what is this thing hanging around his neck that's not a camera nor a light meter? What is that camera, by the way? Does anyone recognize it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Adam Frisch FSF Posted January 11, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 11, 2016 It's a color temp meter. Here's a pic of David Mullen and Vilmos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) Ha! Oh, dear! I was actually wondering for a long time if such a thing existed! Thank you, Adam! :) Edited January 11, 2016 by Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Fettig Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 That shot was done by 2nd Unit Director Eric Schwab -- I don't know who the DP was, maybe Jon Fauer, who is listed as DP for the credit sequence. Learn something every day. I just remember watching that movie about a few years ago. I skipped ahead to the credits to find out who the DP was, as soon as I saw that scene. Took my breath away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zac Fettig Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I was just looking at his work, and then this happened. He did look a bit frail in the most recent photos. Rest in peace. He will be missed. Could somebody tell me what is this thing hanging around his neck that's not a camera nor a light meter? What is that camera, by the way? Does anyone recognize it? Canon PowerShot G series. G10, G11 or G12. Something like that. Probably a G10. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted January 11, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 11, 2016 The other thing looks like a Minolta Color Meter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Canon PowerShot G series. G10, G11 or G12. Something like that. Probably a G10. It's too bad that since quite recently I can't find the interview with him on the ASC's blog pages where he talked about how he used the camera to photograph stuff to convey what he wanted to do with the colours to the colourist. It seems like that part of the Web site is gone. One other thing: what is this thing he is looking through in the second picture? http://www.woodyallenpages.com/2016/01/rip-vilmos-zsigmond-woody-allen-cinematographer/ Then there was that other interview where he spoke of how they were taught cinematography and lighting when he was studying at the academy in Budapest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) It's a pan-glass, a dense filter meant to give a better idea of the brightness range of a scene by removing the colour. He is probably looking at the sky to judge the progress of clouds without getting dazzled Edited January 12, 2016 by Mark Dunn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted January 12, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 12, 2016 It's a pan-glass, a dense filter meant to give a better idea of the brightness range of a scene by removing the colour. He is probably looking at the sky to judge the progress of clouds without getting dazzled Or a gaffer's glass. Basically very heavy ND to protect your eye when looking at the sun to check whether the clouds are coming or going. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now