American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 57

Unit photography by Dale Robinette. Additional photos by Linus Sandgren, FSF. All images courtesy of Lionsgate.

Opposite and this
page, top:
Sebastian (Ryan
Gosling) and Mia
(Emma Stone)
find romance
against the
hardscrabble
backdrop of the
Los Angeles
showbiz scene in
the musical La La
Land. Below:
Cinematographer
Linus Sandgren,
FSF measures the
light on set.

for a mutual attraction to emerge from
beneath their bickering repartee, and it's
brought to life in the song-and-dance
number "A Lovely Night." Romance
blooms but gets complicated as R&B
singer Keith ( John Legend) persuades
Sebastian to join his touring band the
Messengers, and Mia makes one last
play to jump-start her thespian dream.
She and Sebastian come to realize that
given the demands of their career goals
and budding relationship, something's
gotta give.
Chazelle, 30 at the time of filming, proved to be one of the industry's
most exciting young talents with 2014's
Academy Award-winning Whiplash
(shot by Sharone Meir; AC Nov. '14) -
also a music-themed project, though in
essence a psychological drama. For La
La Land he teamed with director of
photography Linus Sandgren, FSF,
appreciating the latter's work with director David O. Russell on American Hustle
(AC Jan. '14) and Joy. They hit it off in
their initial meeting.
"Damien is a strong storyteller,
and he's very clear when he describes his
vision," recalls Sandgren on the line
from London, where he is shooting
Lasse Hallström's period fantasy The

Nutcracker. "Damien is also a director
with a big, romantic heart. I especially
fell for his sincere love for classic cinema
filmmaking, and for the original music
for the film [by Justin Hurwitz, Benj
Pasek and Justin Paul] that he played for
me. I was surprised by the melancholic
theme, and could immediately sense
how this would impact the emotions of
the story and make it a very different
[kind of ] musical."
In a separate interview, Chazelle
says, "One of the things I love most
about Linus is that he has an old soul.
www.theasc.com

He's in love with analog filmmaking,
celluloid, Technicolor and old lenses,
and yet he has this youthful energy and
a tech-savvy brain that's all about finding new ways to do things. That epitomizes where I want this movie to live.
I'm trying to hark back to certain old
traditions but hopefully show you something you haven't seen before."
The director screened musicals
for the crew to get them into the
intended spirit. He cites influences from
1930s-1960s Hollywood, noting, "That
tradition of musicals composed directly
January 2017

57



http://www.theasc.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - January 2017

Contents
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 1
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 2
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - Contents
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 4
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 5
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 6
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 7
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 8
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 9
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 10
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 11
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 12
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 13
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 14
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 15
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 16
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 17
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 18
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 19
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 20
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 21
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 22
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 23
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 24
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 25
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 26
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 27
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 28
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 29
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 30
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 31
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 32
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 33
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 34
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 35
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 36
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 37
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 38
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 39
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 40
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 41
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 42
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 43
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 44
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 45
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 46
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 47
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 48
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 48a
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 48b
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 49
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 50
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 51
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 52
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 53
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 54
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 55
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 56
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 57
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 58
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 59
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 60
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 61
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 62
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 63
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 64
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 65
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 66
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 67
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 68
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 69
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 70
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 71
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 72
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 73
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 74
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 75
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 76
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 77
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 78
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 79
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 80
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 81
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 82
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 83
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 84
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 85
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 86
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 87
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 88
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 89
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 90
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 91
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 92
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 93
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 94
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 95
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 96
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 97
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 98
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 99
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 100
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 101
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 102
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 103
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 104
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 105
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 106
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 107
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - 108
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - January 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0424
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0324
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0224
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0124
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1023
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0923
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0823
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0723
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0623
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0523
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0423
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0323
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0223
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0123
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0922
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0822
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0722
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0622
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0522
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0422
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0322
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0222
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0122
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0921
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0821
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0721
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0621
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0521
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0421
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0321
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0221
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0121
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com