The joys — and complexity — of making movies often can be found in different aspects of creating a scene. For Focus Features’ “Harriet,” director of photography John Toll was challenged by a sequence in which 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman, played by Cynthia Erivo, calls upon her faith for support as she crosses a deep river.
“As is often the case, you see a shot in a film and you just take it for granted,” says Toll, a two-time Oscar winner. To get the camera placement just right, a 10-foot crane was mounted in a boat that was stabilized in the middle of the lake that stood in for the scripted river, Toll says. The crane was fully extended, holding a remote-controlled camera at an improbable two inches above the water.
“We wanted to be eye level with Cynthia, and she was literally up to her neck in the water,” he explains.
“As is often the case, you see a shot in a film and you just take it for granted,” says Toll, a two-time Oscar winner. To get the camera placement just right, a 10-foot crane was mounted in a boat that was stabilized in the middle of the lake that stood in for the scripted river, Toll says. The crane was fully extended, holding a remote-controlled camera at an improbable two inches above the water.
“We wanted to be eye level with Cynthia, and she was literally up to her neck in the water,” he explains.
- 11/8/2019
- by Zoe Hewitt
- Variety Film + TV
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