Mike Leigh & Dick Pope - Director & Cinematographer
Dec 30, 2020
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Mike Leigh and Dick Pope, director and cinematographer respectively, join Team Deakins for a fascinating conversation. They talk about their collaboration, the importance of location, and their approach to working with actors. They also discuss their decision to not use storyboards for the film Peterloo and share insights into their unique filmmaking process.
Mike Leigh's approach to filmmaking involves extensive improvisation, organic creation, and careful character development.
Thorough rehearsals are essential for authentic and nuanced performances, with improvisation leading to powerful moments and one-take shots.
The deliberate selection of locations and the incorporation of organic elements within the frame create intimacy and immerse the audience in the characters' world.
Deep dives
The Collaborative Process and Path to Filmmaking
The podcast episode discusses the unique and collaborative process of creating films. Director Mike Lee and cinematographer Dick Pope share their experiences and insights. Lee explains his journey from acting to directing, emphasizing the importance of organic creation and exploration. He highlights the influence of world cinema and the need to challenge conventional filmmaking practices. Lee's approach involves extensive improvisation and careful character development, with the actors only knowing what their characters know. The episode delves into the rehearsal process, location choices, and the balance between improvisation and scripting. It also touches on the significance of meticulous rehearsal to ensure authentic and nuanced performances.
Creating Memorable Scenes through Rehearsal and Organic Filmmaking
The discussion focuses on specific scenes and shots from Mike Lee's films, such as the existential conversation in "Naked" and the climactic café scene in "Secrets and Lies." The podcast highlights the importance of thorough rehearsals, allowing actors to fully embody their characters and explore nuance and subtleties. The scene in "Naked" was an improvisation that presented itself during rehearsal, leading to a single take shot. Lee emphasizes the value of rehearsals for emotional and behavioral scenes, which provide options for fine-tuning performances in post-production. Moreover, the podcast reveals that the final cut of a film often differs from the footage shot, as editing plays a crucial role in shaping the story.
The Relationship Between Shot Choices and Storytelling
Lee and Pope discuss the connection between shot choices, storytelling, and the overall cinematic experience. They explain their deliberate selection of locations and the importance of finding authentic settings. The podcast highlights scenes like the silhouette conversation in "Naked" and the family barbecue in "Secrets and Lies." The choice of long takes and fixed camera positions in these scenes creates a sense of intimacy and immerses the audience in the characters' world. Lee's approach involves incorporating organic elements and dynamics within the frame, opting for longer takes when appropriate. The podcast underlines the significance of the editing process in shaping and refining the narrative structure.
Collaboration and Location Selection
The podcast episode discusses the collaborative process between the director and the cinematographer, emphasizing the importance of finding and utilizing the right locations. They share examples of how certain locations were crucial to the storytelling, such as a rundown housing estate in the film 'All or Nothing' and the houses in 'Secrets and Lies.' The director highlights the need for complete control over important locations and the challenges in finding the right ones.
Working on Large-Scale Films
The podcast also explores the director's experience working on a large-scale film, such as 'Peterloo.' They discuss the preparation and organization involved in handling big crowd scenes, the importance of individual character work for a large cast, and the visual coordination between the cinematographer and director. They touch on the decision not to rely on storyboards and the organic process of crafting scenes and shots based on the location and the emotions they evoke.
EPISODE 76 - MIKE LEIGH & DICK POPE - Director & Cinematographer
Team Deakins has the pleasure of sitting down with the long time collaborative team of Mike Leigh and Dick Pope (MR. TURNER, NAKED, SECRETS & LIES). What a great conversation! Mike shares with us his method of working and delineates the difference between his work and that of the directors John Cassavetes and Ken Loach. We learn the importance of having the right location and being able to return to the location during the course of the shoot. As the film is an “ongoing investigation” of what it will be according to Mike, Dick shares how amazing the experience is when he sees the blocked scene play out on location for the first time. Mike speaks on his way of working with actors. We also learn why on the film Peterloo, which involved a lot of scenes with a lot of extras and battles, they chose not to do storyboards. Both Mike and Dick talk about the specifics of their collaboration and how it has strengthened over years. A fascinating look into a very special relationship between a director and cinematographer.
RECOMMENDED EPISODE VIEWING: Secrets and Lies
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