EMMANUEL LUBEZKI
Wish I had a chance to meet Emmanuel Lubezki (Chivo).
He’s one of the best Cinematographer in the world. His recent work with the film ‘The Revenant’ shows the master of persistence. If the blocking or mood isn’t just right, it’s done over and over again, to achieve that prefect balance.
You also need a director who believes in his Cinematographer, giving him the freedom to do his magic. And, Alejandro (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ) really does believe in Emmanuel. Together, both envision the mood they want the viewers to see and experience. That’s what film is all about. What do you experience? How do you feel? What emotions are released ?
The Cinematographer could be said,”Seeing is believing”.
We see a scene and right away feel an emotion. And, if the emotion is intense, it really hits home. What we see and feel makes the movie experience something we will never forget. In fact, the movies that stay with me emotionally, I’ll remember them as long as I live. It could be specific dialogue, the mood or the incredible action scenes. Whatever hits home, I relish the experience, filing it like the most valuable treasure of them all.
It made me feel, and that’s good. It’s Gold.
As humans, we love to express what we see, feel and experience. Captivating the mood in the film is one of the hardest things to do. And, sometimes, it takes persistence and determination to achieve it. Sometimes you fail, and that’s the key.
Failing moves you forward.
As said in the interview with Emmanuel,” In [The Revenant], we had many moments where we completely failed. There’s a scene at the beginning of the movie where the Native American warriors attack. You see arrows flying in the air and [the fur trappers] are lost and don’t have any idea where the attack is coming from. We probably shot that scene four times because we failed a couple of those times. The blocking was wrong. The camera was in the wrong position. More than anything, the tempo of the scene was wrong. We were hitting it very fast and weren’t able to capture the emotion Alejandro wanted. It took a couple of tries to build it to where it is right now in the movie, which is haunting and scary and mysterious. That’s something I love about Alejandro”
So. In conclusion, to be able to meet Emmanuel Lubezki( wish I knew him enough to have the privilege to call him Chivo) and learn his camera techniques to get that particular mood. It would be one of the most precious gift, anyone making film, could ever receive.
Until then, as a screenwriter and very little experience in filming, I will begin to produce small trailers with little to zero dialogue, in order for the audience to see, feel and believe in my story, BLACK ANGELS, a science-fiction thriller. Writing is where I feel most at home. It allows me the opportunity to express what I feel and takes you along a journey, exploring the reality and dreams, where my imagination will envision the future of endless possibilities.
This is how I see it,” I envision a story and bring it to life.”
I also can envision cinematographer Emmanuel and Director Alejandro working on my screenplay, BLACK ANGELS.
How glorious would that be !
READ more about how Emmanuel’s failing might explain his three oscars.
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By Bari Demers – screenwriter and freelance writer
Dreams and Reality 