American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 40
◗
Facing the Void
This sequence of images shows key steps in a progression that begins with the prelight animation (top)
and proceeds to the live-action production shoot (where soft fill light is applied), the first-pass
integration of live-action footage with virtual elements, and the final image.
40
November 2013
American Cinematographer
complex, but we started in the most
simple way - first with storyboards,
and then with a bunch of puppets and
toy versions of the International Space
Station and the space shuttle Columbia,"
Lubezki explains. "We talked about
them in the most primitive terms with
the animators. It was great to start with
some puppets, then have the animator
come back with a black-and-white
block animation, and then start to add
volume, color and light. It's truly about
layers and layers of work."
Cuarón laughs as he recalls the
surprises inherent in blocking characters
in a zero-gravity environment. "The
complications are really something,
because you have characters that are
spinning. Say you want to start your
shot with George's face and move the
camera to Sandra, who is spinning at a
different rate. You start moving around
her, and then you start to go back to
George, only to realize that if you go
back to George at that moment, you will
be shooting his feet! So then you have to
start from scratch. Sometimes you find
amazing things accidentally, but sometimes you have to reconceive the whole
scene."
Webber adds that the camera
moves for a few of the shots were
motion-captured with a small rig that
the filmmakers moved in a real space to
create moves within the CG environment. "We wanted the camerawork to
have a natural feel," says Webber. "So,
rather than have everything key-frameanimated, we did some virtual camerawork in a small motion-capture studio.
Alfonso, Chivo and I could take the rig
and just wander around, controlling the
camera and framing up shots, and we
later tweaked it a bit to make it feel
more like zero gravity."
Lubezki believes that the long
take (plano sequencia in Spanish) brings
the audience into the movie in a striking
way. "The main thing about the plano
sequencia is that it is immersive. To me,
it feels more real, more intimate and
more immediate. The fewer the cuts,
the more you are with [the characters];
it's as if you're feeling what they're going
American Cinematographer - November 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - November 2013
Contents
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 1
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 2
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 3
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 4
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Contents
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 6
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 7
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 8
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 9
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 10
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 11
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 12
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 13
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 14
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 15
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 16
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 17
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 18
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 19
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 20
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 21
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 22
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 23
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 24
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 25
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 26
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 27
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 28
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 29
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 30
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 31
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 32
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 33
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 34
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 35
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 36
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 37
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 38
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 39
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 40
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 41
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 42
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 43
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 44
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 45
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 46
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 47
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 48
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 49
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 50
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 51
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 52
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 53
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 54
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 55
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 56
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 57
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 58
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 59
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 60
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 61
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 62
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 63
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 64
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 65
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 66
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 67
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 68
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 69
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 70
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 71
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 72
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 73
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 74
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 75
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 76
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 77
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 78
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 79
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 80
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 81
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 82
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 83
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 84
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 85
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 86
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 87
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 88
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 89
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 90
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 91
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 92
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 93
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 94
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 95
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 96
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 97
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 98
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 99
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 100
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 101
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 102
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 103
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 104
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 105
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 106
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 107
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 108
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 109
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 110
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 111
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 112
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com