I posted an interview I did 7 years ago with the late, great cinematographer Harris Savides about the filmmaking process with director Gus van Sant for their masterful Death Trilogy: Gerry, Elephant, Last Days. The post is on my blog on theasc.com.

Here’s an excerpt:

BB: And for you as a cinematographer, does freedom mean that you’re going to try a bunch of different things when you get to the set?

HS: No, we make rules. The rules are a simple mandate. Very simple. Like very little dialogue, try to shoot as long a take as possible, put the camera at this height (gesturing at the table).

It’s very interesting, because a lot of decisions are taken out of the mix. It imposes an integrity on everything. But also it imposes a speed, and a decision-making that’s pure, that’s only about a few things.

BB: I love what you’re saying, that if you want freedom, you need constraints.

HS: Oh yeah. I think that’s the essence of freedom. You can’t be free and be a wild filmmaker. You really have to have rules, and a discipline of sorts, that, of course, conspire to make the film that you’ve set out to make.

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link
http://bit.ly/Savides-thefilmbook

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We spoke in the café at Camerimage in Lodz about contrast, perhaps the most important aspect of cinematography.

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link

http://bit.ly/ascSavidesContrast

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In part 3 of my video interview with Chris Doyle, the cinematographer talks about the importance of “being there” on set, and talks about the collaboration between the late Harris Savides and director Gus van Sant.

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Christopher speaks about Harris in a video interview I did with him

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My brief tribute to the late Harris Savides with links

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