Visions of Light
The Art of Cinematography
Directed by Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy, Stuart Samuels
A celebratory, intellectually rigorous documentary that honors cinematography as a foundational art form through expert testimony and a century of visual examples.
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
Essence
Ensemble
Like Visions of Light
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Visions of Light
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Like Visions of Light, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
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Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Visions of Light, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
