Visions of Light (1992)

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

Cast

Self
Ernest R. Dickerson
Self
Michael Chapman
Self
Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
Stephen H. Burum
Self
H Harry L. Wolf
Self
C Charles Lang
Self
Sven Nykvist
Self
Robert Wise
Self
László Kovács
Self (archive footage)
James Wong Howe
Self
Haskell Wexler
Self
Vittorio Storaro
Self
Allen Daviau
Self
J John A. Alonzo
Self
Victor J. Kemper
Self
Owen Roizman
Self
Gordon Willis
Self
Bill Butler
Self
Michael Ballhaus
Self
Frederick Elmes
Self
S Sandi Sissel
Self (uncredited)
Todd McCarthy
Self
Caleb Deschanel
Self
L Lisa Rinzler
Self
Conrad L. Hall
Self
William A. Fraker
Self
John Bailey
Self
Néstor Almendros
Self
C Charles Rosher Jr.

Crew

Director
A Arnold Glassman
Director
Todd McCarthy
Director
S Stuart Samuels
Writer
Todd McCarthy
Director of Photography
Nancy Schreiber
Additional Photography
K Karen Grossman
Co-Producer
A Arnold Glassman
Associate Producer
M Mariko Hirai
Executive Producer
T Terry Lawler
Executive Producer
Y Yoshiki Nishimura
Associate Producer
I Irene Ohno
Executive Producer
S Stuart Samuels
Editor
A Arnold Glassman
Set Dresser
D Deborah Rhein