In this special episode of the CineD Focus Check Podcast, host Nino welcomes back filmmaker, educator, and author Tal Lazar for a wide-ranging conversation about what cinematography really is — and what it needs to become in an age of rapidly evolving technology. Don’t be surprised, because of the upcoming holidays we’ve decided to publish this week’s podcast episode on Tuesday already, instead of the usual Thursday. From next week, we will go back to the usual Thursday publication of new episodes! Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music PlayerFM iHeart Radio YouTube Tal’s new book, Cinematography: Beyond Technique, challenges a long-standing assumption in filmmaking: that mastering cameras, lenses, and lighting is enough. Drawing on over 15 years of teaching at institutions such as AFI, Sundance, and FilmLab, Tal argues that cinematography lives in the space between intention and execution — not in technology itself. Together, Nino and Tal explore: Why great images don’t automatically make great films How directors and cinematographers often talk past each other on set What blocking rehearsals reveal about hidden gaps in film education Why lenses, lighting, and framing are storytelling tools — not technical checklists And how AI forces filmmakers to re-examine creative intention, not just workflow The conversation also tackles one of today’s most controversial topics: AI in filmmaking. Referencing recent statements by Roger Deakins and drawing parallels to the Canon 5D revolution, Tal explains why resisting new tools outright is rarely productive — but why giving up creative intention is far more dangerous. This...
Published By: CineD - Today