A Star Is Born Up Close
Digital Studio|February 2019

Matthew Libatique, ASC, who has won the 2018 Hollywood Film Award for Cinematographer of the Year, for his work on A Star Is Born, revealed that he used Cooke Anamorphic/i SF ‘Special Flair’ lenses to help him move the story from the main superstar character Jack (Bradley Cooper — who is also the director) to the newcomer Ally (Lady Gaga) in a way that would be believable to today’s audience.

A Star Is Born Up Close

A Star Is Born was also Cooper’s directorial debut, which brought about a more ‘open’ workflow on set. “We had discussions early on,” said Libatique. “You are working with one person tasked with many hats: acting, directing, music. It made everyone on set responsible for a lot more than they normally would be — especially me — watching for things we don’t normally watch out for. How things look, how they sound, how a scene is going that Bradley’s acting in. We weren’t just responsible for our regular craft,” he added.

With Cooper set on shooting anamorphic, Libatique had to find the right lens. “I have used the Cooke S4/i spherical for a long time, plus the old Panchro glass, but I needed an anamorphic with character and personality that could perform flawlessly in a variety of settings with the right amount of light hits and flares. The Cooke Anamorphic/i SF primes were those lenses.”

Libatique had a range of seven Anamorphic/i SF primes: 25/32/40/50/65 Macro/75/100mm, which he used for 8590% of the film, with the 40, 50, 65 Macro and 75 being used the most.

This story is from the February 2019 edition of Digital Studio.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2019 edition of Digital Studio.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DIGITAL STUDIOView All
ARRI 360 EVO STABILIZED REMOTE HEAD: TRANSFORMATIVE ADVANCES IN CINEMATIC INNOVATION
Digital Studio

ARRI 360 EVO STABILIZED REMOTE HEAD: TRANSFORMATIVE ADVANCES IN CINEMATIC INNOVATION

ARRI introduces the 360 EVO, a cutting-edge stabilized remote head with 360-degree rotation on pan and roll axes, enabling dynamic shots. Leveraging TRINITY 2's success, it offers unified hardware/ software, remote system integration, LBUS connectivity, and a budget-friendly price-performance ratio, revolutionizing cinematic possibilities.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
SONY CAMERAS ILLUMINATE RUSSELL CROWE'S INDOOR GARDEN PARTY TOUR WITH CINEMATIC BRILLIANCE
Digital Studio

SONY CAMERAS ILLUMINATE RUSSELL CROWE'S INDOOR GARDEN PARTY TOUR WITH CINEMATIC BRILLIANCE

Sony’s versatile Cinema Line, including the innovative ILME-FR7, played a starring role in capturing Russell Crowe’s eclectic tour, offering dynamic shots, impressive low-light performance, and unmatched flexibility. Director of Photography Joe Machart, alongside a skilled crew, leveraged the strengths of various Sony models, showcasing their commitment to exceptional image quality and reinforcing confidence in Sony’s Cinema Line for large-scale projects.

time-read
8 mins  |
February 2024
EXPLORING INDIAN CINEMA'S EXCEPTIONAL PRODUCTION DESIGN PROJECTS
Digital Studio

EXPLORING INDIAN CINEMA'S EXCEPTIONAL PRODUCTION DESIGN PROJECTS

Digital Studio India revisits our cinema’s iconic films, applauding the outstanding production designs that defined classics like Devdas,” Jodha Akbar,” and Tumbbad.” From opulent sets to meticulous historical accuracy, these films showcase the profound impact of production design on the cinematic experience.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT IN FLUX: NAVIGATING THE GLOBAL TRENDS
Digital Studio

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT IN FLUX: NAVIGATING THE GLOBAL TRENDS

The Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry is undergoing a transformative shift, propelled by digital consumption surges, the Metaverse's emergence, and regional market dynamics. Concurrently, broadcasting experiences a metamorphosis, witnessing a decline in TV viewing, a surge in streaming, and a technological overhaul with AI integration, signalling a future where adaptability and innovation define the industry's trajectory.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2024
ARK Infosolutions and Boston India Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Indian Business Tech Solutions
Digital Studio

ARK Infosolutions and Boston India Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Indian Business Tech Solutions

In a groundbreaking collaboration, ARK Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd., a prominent distributor of technology products, announces a strategic partnership with Boston India, a leading IT solutions provider.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
Clear-Com Facilitates Major Intercom System Upgrade for Tulip Television's New Office in Toyama City
Digital Studio

Clear-Com Facilitates Major Intercom System Upgrade for Tulip Television's New Office in Toyama City

In a significant technological advancement, Tulip Television Co. Ltd., an esteemed affiliate of Japan News Network (JNN) established in 1990, has recently upgraded its intercom system for its new office building. The broadcaster's initiative was realized with the instrumental support of Clear-Com.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
Farzin Najmi Appointed Senior VP - Sports Technology, CTO - Enterprise IT & BPE at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd
Digital Studio

Farzin Najmi Appointed Senior VP - Sports Technology, CTO - Enterprise IT & BPE at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd

Farzin Najmi has assumed the role of Senior Vice President Sports Technology, CTO Enterprise IT & BPE at Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd, a prominent player in the media and entertainment sector.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
LG and Samsung Unveil Next-Gen Transparent Displays at CES 2024
Digital Studio

LG and Samsung Unveil Next-Gen Transparent Displays at CES 2024

At CES 2024, LG and Samsung showcased their cutting-edge transparent display technologies, hinting at a potential revolution in home entertainment.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
TAG Video Systems Partners with Amagi for Enhanced Cloud Monitoring
Digital Studio

TAG Video Systems Partners with Amagi for Enhanced Cloud Monitoring

TAG Video Systems has entered into a strategic partnership with Amagi, a leading cloud-based SaaS provider specializing in broadcast and connected TV.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024
Edgio Announces New CEO, Todd Hinders, to Drive Growth and Transformation
Digital Studio

Edgio Announces New CEO, Todd Hinders, to Drive Growth and Transformation

Edgio Inc., the edge computing platform for speed, security, and simplicity, has named Todd Hinders as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Hinders also joins the company's board of directors. He succeeds Bob Lyons, who stepped down from the CEO and board positions.

time-read
1 min  |
February 2024