Movies for Photographers

I should add two classic films by Chinese Director Zhang Yimou both of which are beautifully shot and belong on this list.

The film The Road Home introduced to the world the beautiful actress Zhang Zhiyi (from Memoirs of Geisha). The opening section of the movie was shot in monochrome then the rest of the movie was in color as it switched to events (a young love story) that occurred in the 1960s during the cultural revolution.

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A somewhat similar film in that it is a deep love story is Under the Hawthorn Tree directed by the same Director.

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Both films are beautifully shot and sensitively evoke images of the personal lives of people in China during the tumultuous (and in reality pretty horrible) cultural revolution. I confess that I have always been a sucker for weepy sensitively told chick flicks. (Not the light fluffy Hollywood type).

It occurs to me belatedly though that one Hollywood movie of this sort I do like very much (though made in the 1950s) is Love is a Many Splendored Thing. And perhaps it is right to add it to the list as well as it was shot on location in old Hong Kong, and beautifully shot too. If you like Fan Ho's photographic work you may well like the images in this movie too.

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I just produced a movie called “Camera Store”

It’s about a failing camera store in the early 90s. It’s on Netflix currently as well as iTunes and VOD.

Definitely some great cinematography imo ;)

I hope y’all check it out and dig it!

Trailer:
https://youtu.be/qQWGgE6w0jg
 
I have Jim Jarmusch (Down by Law) and Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire) for creating a love of black & white in my youth....

Also highly reccomend films by Bela Tarr, he shoots blakc & white and uses very long takes, I think Wreckmeister Harmonies only has six picture cuts in the entire film... the constuction, composition, camera movement etc to achieve this is masterful & so beautiful


Down by Law trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcSxhjH0pwA

Wings of Desire trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAzzR2Uklok

Wreckmeister Harmonies trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YGdkxI0rU4
 
Just came from "Murder on the Orient Express", what a visually stunning movie. And there's a Leica I (I believe) in an early scene. But the cinematography is breathtaking. Not a bad story either.

Best,
-Tim
 
Lust Caution and Beijing Bicycle, two more beautifully shot Chinese films.

Everlasting Moments. A Swedish film about a mother who wins a folding camera in a lottery. She tries to sell it later but the photographer/photographic shop owner encourages her to take photographs instead and gives her some film, chemicals and some instruction. I would watch it again tomorrow. She had a tough life. One photographic session stands out. You’ll know which one if you see the film.
 
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If you like japanese photography do not miss anything from these directors -

Seijun Suzuki (Tokyo Drifter)

...

Gotta check on this one esp. as it is in colour. I've watched in the past "Branded to Kill" by Seijun Suzuki. It's superb photographically (B/W) although risible as a story. Joe Shishido as a hitman with a rice fetish is a hoot to watch. I bet Tarantino knows Suzuki's films by heart.

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I just produced a movie called “Camera Store”

It’s about a failing camera store in the early 90s. It’s on Netflix currently as well as iTunes and VOD.

Definitely some great cinematography imo ;)

I hope y’all check it out and dig it!

Trailer:
https://youtu.be/qQWGgE6w0jg

i want to watch it...looks like there's lots of drameh. but why is it set in the early 90s? didn't digital wipe out camera stores mostly in the late 00s and early 10s?
 
“The Girl with the Pearl Earring” movie. It has been on HBO recently and I notice a showing on December 15.

Beautiful movie about art created by Vermeer.

Information here in Google search:

the girl with the pearl earring movie
 
I just produced a movie called “Camera Store”

It’s about a failing camera store in the early 90s. It’s on Netflix currently as well as iTunes and VOD.

I see it is available to stream/download on Amazon.
Are there any plans for a DVD release?

Chris
 
I see it is available to stream/download on Amazon.
Are there any plans for a DVD release?

Chris



At this time no DVD plans. :(

At this point it’s hard to justify the cost of a DVD release for small indies. The sales are just so low!

It is on Amazon as well Itunes. Also available on Cable/satellite on demand. It is also available on several other online streaming services to rent/buy, but it’s hard for me to remember every single one. I believe it is on Vudu as well.

You can also watch for free on Netflix.

I hope some of you all take the time to watch it. It’s a bit depressing, but I think we did a pretty good job. I would really appreciate any feedback from the camera community. I also have to say imho that per the topic of this thread I think we had some gorgeous cinematography!

Anyway. Thanks for the interest!


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i want to watch it...looks like there's lots of drameh. but why is it set in the early 90s? didn't digital wipe out camera stores mostly in the late 00s and early 10s?



It’s just before digital takes over. In fact there is a scene where a “Lion Film” (Kodak wouldn’t give us clearance) comes in to show the manager their first digicam prototype.

The store is not really failing because of the digital take over, more because of the stubborn manager. It’s on the eve of the digital revolution, he’s really going against one hour photo booths, which at the time we’re the future.

The writer originally wrote the script in the mid 90s, and we updated it a bit. He had worked in this camera store when he was college and it is based on his experience there.

This article explains some of the genesis and background of the story.

http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2015/12/on_the_set_of_camera_store_esp.html

I’m the Nick interviewed in the article ;)


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Days of Heaven (1978), director of photography Nestor Almendros. This film was mainly shot on location in southern Alberta where the light at dawn and dusk has distinctive pinkish overtones. Almendros captured this quality beautifully as well as effectively in dramatic terms.
 
Just to name a few with wonderful photography moments, in no particular order...

Ran
The Godfather, parts I and II
Rob Roy
The pale rider
Unforgiven
Into Great Silence (documentary)
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Mad Max Fury Road
The Mission
The revenant
The Hateful Eight
Breaking Bad
 
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