Hala premiered in the NEXT category at Sundance, joining the long list of films in the Sundance coming-of-age canon. This spectacular drama directed by Minhal Baig follows the inward and outward journeys of a Muslim teen in America, a narrative beautifully specific that will ring familiar, yet enlighten its audiences all at the same time. This film does what so many of us aim to do. This impeccably lensed narrative captures underrepresented truth and presents it to the world in an opportunity to commiserate with its protagonist, and optimally expand our empathy. We chatted with cinematographer Carolina Costa to uncover what was involved in her process for Hala. Geraldine Viswanathan appears in Hala, directed by Minhal Baig. DP: Carolina Costa Film: HALA (dir. Minhal Baig) Sundance Category: NEXT Competition Camera: Alexa Mini Lenses: Cooke S4s DP Philosophy: I think it’s primarily about your instinct. Then, with time, your instincts are matched with experience. That is how I will try and choose the projects, make choices, and run my departments: I stick with my gut. That being said, I like to always start fresh in each project, not to come with vices and decisions made on previous ones. I like to merge myself into each story I am helping a director tell, though I am sure it is always filtrated by my own life experiences…which comes to my one and only philosophy. Read and portray your characters with empathy. I try to always understand why these people have made these choices and why today....
Published By: CineD - Monday, 4 February, 2019