Tom Del Ruth: On Film

From Kodak's On Film Series by Tom Del Ruth, ASC. (1999)

"Even small compromises can make a big impact on a film. If the texture isn't filmatic, people start thinking about making other compromises and you are left with a film that lacks emotional appeal. Cinematography requires perception and experience to recognize and make the right aesthetic decisions within the boundaries of finite budgets and schedules. That's part of the challenge. You can change the emotional flow of a movie with a single light and you can heighten or reduce tension by choosing the right lens and composition. With all the advances in digital post, one things hasn't changed. The cinematographer is still the author of the images in the collaborative process of filmmaking. It's a serious responsibility, because film is a primary cultural force that has changed the way we see the world."

- Tom Del Ruth, ASC