Visions of Light backdrop
Visions of Light logo
1992·Documentary·1h 32m
7.0
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.
Directed by Arnold Glassman and Stuart Samuels and Todd McCarthy
cinematographer
filmmaking
film production
cinema history
art documentary

Cast

Ernest R. Dickerson
Ernest R. Dickerson
Self
Michael Chapman
Michael Chapman
Self
Allen Daviau
Allen Daviau
Self
Caleb Deschanel
Caleb Deschanel
Self
Lisa Rinzler
Lisa Rinzler
Self
Conrad Hall
Conrad Hall
Self
William A. Fraker
William A. Fraker
Self
John Bailey
John Bailey
Self
Néstor Almendros
Néstor Almendros
Self
Vilmos Zsigmond
Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
Stephen H. Burum
Stephen H. Burum
Self
Charles Lang
Charles Lang
Self

Crew

Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Director
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Writer
Nancy Schreiber
Nancy Schreiber
Director of Photography
Bill Pope
Bill Pope
Thanks

Popular Reviews

28 reviews
Mila
Mila
Visions of Light
Film class grr
Film class grr
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Colin Canik
Visions of Light
This was a really cool documentary that explores light used across all of these different decades, different directors, different directors of photography

The interviews are really cool especially matched up with clips from the movies they talk about just done really well and shares some cool insight
This was a really cool documentary that explores light used across all of these different decades, different directors, different directors of photography

The interviews are really cool especially matched up with clips from the movies they talk about just done really well and shares some cool insight
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Comment
Draven
Draven
Visions of Light
Very insightful and even comforting documentary. Full of passion that you just can’t help but admire
Very insightful and even comforting documentary. Full of passion that you just can’t help but admire
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John Flame
John Flame
Visions of Light
Overall interesting but it doesn't add anything you wouldn't know from just taking a basic film history class.
Overall interesting but it doesn't add anything you wouldn't know from just taking a basic film history class.
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WilliamYummy
WilliamYummy
Visions of Light
Okur
Okur
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