When Robert Elswit wasn’t available for Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson made the unusual choice to have no cinematographer. This is how he pulled it off. Even though the demand for cinematographers has grown in recent years, filmmakers can't help but ask themselves, "Do I need a cinematographer?" While most people will say yes, few will point out that some of the greatest filmmakers out there don't use a cinematographer. Reed Morano, Quentin Tarantino, and David Lynch have all served as their own cinematographers, but no film can compare to the beauty of the cinematographer-less film Phantom Thread. Paul Thomas Anderson's film didn't intend on not having a cinematographer. Anderson wanted Robert Elswit, a cinematographer Anderson has worked with in the past on multiple projects, but Elswit had scheduling conflicts. Instead of finding another cinematographer to work with, Anderson had the confidence in his skill and his team's skill to create a visually stunning film. Read More...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Monday, 2 August, 2021