In an interview with Onscreen Asia, cinematographer Dave Perkal talks about capturing the super speeds of the vampires in the CW Network television series “The Vampire Diaries.”
“Our show is a bit different from your normal television episodic,” Perkal notes. “We opt for the more cinematic approach in our visual dialectic. We strive for big screen wide cinematic masters, the kind that evoke a gothic renaissance painterly style and juxtapose those with crushing 290mm close ups. There is no middle ground. The perspective is also very voyeuristic, moving through the foreground and creating off-axis shots to keep you wanting to see more. We move characters in and out of darkness to create mystery and suspense. What you see is as important as what you don’t see.”
To do this, Perkal shoots with a camera package that includes three Alexas, two Angenieux 12:1s and a set of Master Primes. “And, two OConnor 2575s,” he adds. “Our Alexa camera with the Angenieux 12:1 and accessories weighs close to 80 pounds. The OConnor balances the load and delivers the precision and subtle smooth feel I’ve come to expect.
“We often use the OConnor heads to vamp move our actors with blistering whip pan speed,” he adds. “We look straight down into the sets and then whip pan high up into the corners. There are also times when we need to be at 290mm and have the precision and control of a gear head but maintain the versatility and freedom of a fluid head. OConnor gives that to me every time.”
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