GREIG FRASER - Cinematographer - THE BATMAN - Part 1
Aug 16, 2023
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Cinematographer Greig Fraser discusses his work on THE BATMAN, including the challenges faced during production due to COVID-19. He talks about the creative process behind developing the film's visual aesthetic, the use of unique lenses, and the impact of location choices. They also explore the intersection of live-action and animation, the pros and cons of using live techniques versus computer-generated effects in shooting Batman, and different approaches to cinematography.
The collaboration between Greig Fraser and director Matt Reeves was influenced by their long-standing friendship and Reeves' strong creative ideas and vision, motivating Fraser to invest his time and effort into working on The Batman.
Extensive pre-production and collaboration were crucial in shaping the look of The Batman, with early discussions addressing visual ideas and the use of Unreal for pre-vis and lens testing, ensuring a cohesive visual language for the film.
Innovations in filming key sequences, such as the car chase, included the use of gray screens for background replacements and seamless integration of practical elements with visual effects, creating shots that were perceived as real despite being entirely computer-generated.
Deep dives
The Director's Influence and Strong Vision
Cinematographer Greg Frazier discusses his collaboration with director Matt Reeves on The Batman. Frazier explains that his long-standing friendship with Reeves influenced his decision to work on the film. He highlights Reeves' strong creative ideas and drive to achieve his vision, which motivated Frazier to invest his time and effort into the project. The Batman offered unique challenges due to its dark and moody atmosphere, as well as the distinct character of Gotham City. Frazier praises the film for being a character-focused piece, differentiating it from other superhero movies.
The Importance of Pre-Production and Collaboration
Frazier emphasizes the significance of extensive pre-production and collaboration in shaping the look of The Batman. He describes the early discussions with Reeves, where they addressed visual ideas and exchanged references. Frazier's involvement in the project began two and a half years before filming started, allowing ample time to develop and refine ideas. They used Unreal, a gaming engine, to create pre-vis and test lenses, ensuring a cohesive visual language for the film. Frazier also highlights the importance of a talented team, including the second unit, in maintaining the director's vision and avoiding deviations from the established dogma of the film.
The Challenges and Innovations in Filming
Frazier discusses the challenges and innovations in filming key sequences, particularly the car chase. He explains the use of gray screens to facilitate background replacements and the integration of practical elements, such as rain and smoke, with visual effects. Frazier praises the seamless integration of CG elements, noting that some shots were perceived as real when they were entirely computer-generated. He also touches on the utilization of LED volumes and their benefits in creating immersive environments. Frazier highlights the careful balance of maintaining the film's vision while using new technologies to enhance storytelling.
Shooting on an LED volume for consistent lighting
The podcast discusses the use of an LED volume for shooting scenes with consistent lighting throughout the day. The speaker explains that shooting with consistent lighting is typically challenging, as it requires maintaining the same quality of light over a long duration. The speaker saw the potential of using an LED volume technology and emphasized its benefits for achieving consistent lighting conditions. They also mentioned the importance of designing scenes specifically for the LED volume and highlighted the limitations of shooting on blue screen for this purpose.
The advantages and considerations of shooting on film and digital
The podcast explores the advantages and considerations of shooting on film versus digital. The speaker expresses their preference for digital filmmaking due to the precision and control it offers, allowing for precise lighting and capturing every value accurately. They discuss the importance of having confidence in the shots captured on set and the ability to see the final result immediately. However, they acknowledge that shooting on film provides unique qualities in terms of highlights and softness that can enhance the visual appeal. The speaker also mentions the importance of making informed decisions about the film process and using different lenses to achieve the desired look and resolution.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 50 - GREIG FRASER - CINEMATOGRAPHER - THE BATMAN - PART 1
On this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we’re sharing the first half of our live-streamed conversation between Team Deakins and cinematographer Greig Fraser focusing on his work on THE BATMAN. Greig describes to us what drew him to work on the project in the first place and how, even with COVID delays, he and director Matt Reeves still needed more time to prep. Greig reveals the early conversations he had with Matt about the potential applications of the Volume lighting system and how the interactivity of their intended lighting design precluded the use of bluescreen. We later consider the emotional impact of time of day and, in the face of recent technological advances, the irreplaceability of real actors. We discuss the film’s strength as a character piece and how those characters informed Greig’s design decisions, and we also pull back the cowl on the practicality of superhero capes.
A link to the images mentioned in the episode can be found here.
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This episode is sponsored by Falca & Dallas Film Commission
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