S24 - Ep 3 - The Last of Us - Cinematography

How do you bring a game world to life for the screen — especially when that world already has millions of devoted fans? Cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt knows firsthand — and her work on The Last of Us reveals just how complex that challenge can be.

Catherine Goldschmidt joins Robert “Skid” Skidmore to discuss her work on the second season of HBO's The Last of Us, with co-host Gianni Damaia bringing the perspective of a longtime fan and gamer. Together, they dig into the complex visual language of an adaptation that blurs the line between game and cinema — from shot-for-shot recreations to bold deviations.

We cover:

• Catherine’s approach to adapting game cinematics into film language — including when to match and when to break away
• How The Last of Us uses space, light, and camera movement to draw viewers into Ellie’s experience
• Constructing visual set pieces like the subway ambush and Jackson assault with a blend of practical stunts, VFX, and strategic camera placement
• The emotional and logistical challenges of staging Joel’s death
• The visual shift from chaos to quiet in Episode 2’s final montage — and how that deliberate pacing reshapes the episode’s emotional impact

Catherine also reflects on how her collaboration with multiple directors and departments shaped the season’s look and feel, and how visual storytelling can remain grounded even in the most heightened, post-apocalyptic moments.

🎧 Listen now to join us Below the Line with Catherine Goldschmidt — and explore more at www.belowtheline.biz.