BELOW THE LINE IMPACT REPORT ARTISANS SHAPE THE CONTENT Men and women behind the scenes give life to actors’ performances, writers’ words and a director’s vision CINEMATOGRAPHERS JONATHAN FREEMAN IMPACT: The two-time Emmy SEAN BOBBITT winner’s work on “Game of IMPACT: Bobbitt’s unflinching Thrones” earned him an ASC camera helped “12 Years a award, his fourth win among Slave” earn six Oscars, including eight nominations. The show’s best picture. A background in unusual approach to war-zone documentaries production logistics is also turning heads. underlies Bobbitt’s eye. “Overlapping schedules require multiple d.p.’s to Regarding the long shots of key moments, from deliver a full season,” says Freeman (“Remember love to extreme violence, Bobbitt (who shot Spike Me,” “Hollywoodland”). “It’s a unique opportunity Lee’s “Oldboy,” “Hunger,” “Africa United,” “Shame,”) to work with other cinematographers on the says, “An edit subconsciously reminds the audience same sets, with the same actors, and to inspire that they are watching a film. Without that cut, each other with our results. We do try to be hopefully the audience is drawn into the scene, and consistent, so the differences are subtle. It’s a the emotional impact is increased dramatically. team effort.” You’re not let off the hook.” UPCOMING: Episodes of “Boardwalk Empire,” UPCOMING: The features “Kill the Messenger” and and a feature with director Richard Loncraine, “Rock the Kasbah,” directed by Barry Levinson “Life Itself” arts, stretching time and defying gravity, and LIGHT MASTERS earning Oscar and ASC nods. Le Sourd used Sean Bobbitt, DANA GONZALES 35mm film as well as HD cameras at frame rates above left, on the EIGIL BRYLD, up to 1,000. “What I had in front of my lens was set of “12 Years IMPACT: Gonzales shot “Fargo,” IGOR MARTINOVIC unique,” says Le Sourd. “I knew I had to give a Slave,” with the MGM/FX Network mini director Steve everything. When you achieve something in based on the 1996 Coen McQueen; Igor cinema, it touches you and it touches humanity. brothers feature, in the style of Martinovic, right It becomes a discovery.” its progenitor. Wide lenses, center, shooting UPCOMING: A Nike commercial with helmer static frames and lingering “House of Cards”; Mark Romanek Emmanuel shots put the emphasis on the actors, including a Lubezki, bottom villainous Billy Bob Thornton. “It’s a story told in IMPACT: The cinematography of “House of right, with bold strokes,” says Gonzales (“Longmire,” Cards,” Netflix’s groundbreaking, $100 million EMMANUEL LUBEZKI Alfonso Cuaron “Southland,” “Empire State,” second unit on “The foray into episodic television production, is IMPACT: The six-time Oscar on “Gravity” Fighter”). “Every frame has a purpose, and every characterized by an icy precision, echoing the nominee (“The Tree of Life,” movement strengthens the scene and advances characters’ will to grab power and hewing to the “Children of Men”) finally won the story. Camera movement is almost always taut style set by David Fincher. “Everything’s for his work on Alfonso imperceptible, yet impactful.” very composed, and designed to communicate a Cuaron’s “Gravity,” in which UPCOMING: Two features, “Incarnate” and sense of power and space,” says Bryld (“In Bruges,” he pushed the limits of the “Shot Caller,” and a documentary about PTSD, “Kinky Boots”), who shot the first season, earning craft, lighting Sandra Bullock inside a cube made “That Which I Love Destroys Me” BELL/NETFLIX NATHANIEL OF CARDS: an Emmy. “David wanted each frame to grab up of thousands of LEDs projecting moving the audience with gravity, drama and darkness.” backdrops. “Virtual lighting is an extension of the FRED HAYES/WIREIMAGE; VIC: Martinovic (“Man on Wire,” “Wallander”), who shot d.p.’s work,” he says. “Who better than a the second season, says, “The dark dealings and PHILIPPE LE SOURD cinematographer to understand what light should Profiles by cynical attitudes are represented through low-key IMPACT: Over the course of be doing in a scene? Extensive CG doesn’t Hillary Atkin, lighting. We keep the characters on the edge of three years, Le Sourd (“A Good Iain Blair, David necessarily mean a diminished role for the S. Cohen, Randee darkness.” Year,” “Seven Pounds”) shot cinematographer.” Dawn, Whitney UPCOMING: Bryld is shooting “Tulip Fever,” a Wong Kar Wai’s “The UPCOMING: “Birdman,” with Alejandro Gonzalez Friedlander, Marj Galas, feature set in 16th century Holland. Martinovic is Grandmaster,” enhancing the Inarritu; “Knight of Cups,” with Rodrigo Garcia; and David Heuring prepping the HBO miniseries “Criminal Justice.” power and poetry of martial an untitled feature with Terrence Malick and Todd Longwell DOUGLAS KIRKLAND; MARTINO BOBBITT: HOUSE JEFFREY MAYER/WIREIMAGE; LUBEZKI: 46.