Bionic Woman's Style Shake-up Has D.P. Robert McLachlan Running and Gunning
By Bryant Frazer
September 27, 2007 Source: Film & Video
Robert McLachlan knows a thing or two about TV. As a cinematographer with dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship — and both ASC and CSC credentials — he's been a key player on shows including ABC's MacGyver and Fox's recent Pasadena. His work on Fox's Millennium earned him three CSC Awards for outstanding cinematography and three ASC nominations in the same category. He divides his time among episodic television, TV commercials and movies-of-the-week, and feature film work, generally with a genre edge (Black Christmas, Final Destination and Final Destination 3). He recently served time as second-unit director and cinematographer on the massive New Line production of The Golden Compass as well as photographing miniatures for Journey 3D, an upcoming 24p HD release.
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Clairmont strobe lights flashing at 1/50,000th of a second were used to get shots that included super-sharp edges in the same frame with motion blur.
Robert McLachlan: "In a scene where a wounded Jaime and cohort hide out in a Paraguayan warehouse, I just augmented some green neons in the storefront and gave them found flashlights to light the rest of the scene."
Photos (this column) courtesy Robert McLachlan
Comments (6)
1.
I wish to state that we do care about axis, eye-line, and especially lighting. While it is true we do not concern ourselves with the tedium of conventional television, we strive to keep ourselves open to the magic of this type of shooting. I am not sure what Wal-Mart has to do with our show but I think we have a distinct look that has nothing to do with our schedule or our lack of visual concern. We have been given the freedom to think outside the box and present audiences with a different style of television. And I believe we are a show that is being emulated in style because it is efficient, interesting and captures the stories in a real-world setting. I actually enjoy shooting with three cameras because it is like having three extra characters on set telling their own stories. While all angles may not work out, the ones that do do are often powerful and interesting.
Sincerely,
Todd McMullen
Director of Photography,
Friday Night Lights Austin, Texas
Posted by Todd McMullen on Sunday, September 30, 2007 @ 07:19 PM
2.
As a suggestion to the producers of Bionic Woman.
I just wanted to say that as a fan of SciFi and a regular viewer of Stargate, Battlestar, LOST, Heros, Smallville, Kyle XY, Eureka, and the new Journeyman, I wasn't terribly impressed with the first two episodes of Bionic Woman.
It might be the shaky camera work and gritty look, which I tend to associate with low budget and an attempt to cover up bad special effects, or maybe poor story development because of all this producer flux. But it just feels like an effort to get to the end of an episode and then not getting a payoff.
I don't plan to give up on it yet, but if it's still mediocre after 6-8 episodes you probably shouldn't be expecting it to hold ground against any competition.
Posted by Jeff Jones on Thursday, October 4, 2007 @ 02:57 AM
3.
Some feedback:
Recently watched the second episode with my mom (who loved the show 'back in her day') who was completely bewildered and disoriented by the whole deal, particularly the shooting style. Granted the lady is pushing 70, she is an educated woman, well-versed in cinema and she still found the show disappointingly impenetrable. Im not adverse to "thinking outside of the box", but the question remains if the show's target audience is interested in having their film syntax synapses challenged on wednesday nights after a long day at the office. if the producer's are trying to pull off some sort of brechtian "alienation' thing, i get it, otherwise, i would stick to a more classic filmmaking style.
Posted by rudolpho gonzola on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 @ 06:43 PM
4.
I like the show and hope if finds it's sea legs in the next few weeks. The show could stand to be less dark in the writing. Please give us something (not just someone) to root for. Don't over complicate what should be a fun show. Alias got me, then lost me, for exactly that reason.
Good luck.
Posted by Jim Jim on Saturday, October 13, 2007 @ 04:29 PM
5.
"Sea legs?, " "less dark in the writing?" If that wasn't written by one of the new writers or producers I'll eat my light meter.
Posted by Robert McLachlan ASC on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 @ 03:08 PM
6.
I figured I would come back and say that after watching a few episodes now, things might be getting better. Maybe. It does seem a little more lighter and fun with the last couple of episodes that introduced the CIA boyfriend for the Jamie character. Maybe it will continue to get better and reach the level of the Shows on Monday night, Journeyman, Heroes, and Chuck. (currently my most looked forward to night of television).
Posted by Jeff Jones on Sunday, November 25, 2007 @ 08:29 PM
