Jean-Marc Fabre: Observations of American vs French Crews

From American Cinematographer, Sword Pen & Family by Eric Rudolph (October 1998)

Fabre had never worked in the States before and found the American crew

"...very skillful and professional, but less emotionally involved with the film than a typical French crew. I think I prefer the French approach, but we had a good experience. They taught me a lot and I think I taught them some things as well... In France we do not have a key grip who works with flags and diffusion; the electricians handle that. Having the extra pair of hands enabled me to have greater control over the light."

- Jean-Marc Fabre

Christopher Doyle: On Asian Cinema and America

"In recent years, much of what our films do and the talents that make them have been exported or appropriated; it's pretty much an East-West one way street. Occasionally an Asian 'punter' might come back with a diploma or an investment. But most who have "made it" jump on the bandwagon of the Hollywood dream.

The tide is turning. The Last Samurai took his first and last breath on New Zealand's East Coast. The Great Wall is seen more often from Burbank than suborbital space these days. Thailand, Korea, and China are creating vibrant local cinemas that are becoming more prestigious than a fake Rolex watch. My curiosity and the desire to challenge convention have provoked me into working on local production in China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand, as well as in the United States, Australia, and France."

-Christopher Doyle, HKSC