American Cinematographer - September 2008 - (Page 31) to Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC. “He gave me my first light meter as a present, and he taught me a lot,” Pados recalls. “It was fantastic to watch how sensitive to the story Vilmos always is. He’s a great technician, of course, but what I really learned from him was how important it is to be close to the director, to watch his every move and get a sense of how he wants to tell the story.” On The Duchess, Pados collaborated with British director Saul Dibb, whose background is in documentaries. Dibb wanted to tell the story in the most realistic way possible, an approach that appealed to the cinematographer. “One of my problems with period films is that the costumes and historical details can create a kind of distance between the audience and the film,” says Pados. “What’s really different in this script is that Georgina’s story is so personal and intimate. I had seen Saul’s first film, Bullet Boy [2004], which is a frighteningly realistic movie, and I thought it was fantastic. When I started talking to him about The Duchess, I realized what mattered to him most was the reality of the two main characters and their relationship.” To lay the groundwork for his close collaboration with Dibb, Pados spent as much time as possible with the director during prep. “Being a cinematographer is a bit like being a chameleon,” he muses. “You always have to adapt to your environment and become like your director by getting in his head and feeling what he wants, which is why spending time with him is important. “For The Duchess, I had Opposite page: In The Duchess, Lady Georgina Spencer (Keira Knightley) experiences the highs and lows of royal life — and fame — after marrying William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire. This page, top: Georgina and her friends watch in giddy anticipation as a group of handsome young men run a footrace to earn their attentions. Bottom: Director Saul Dibb (far right) and cinematographer Gyula Pados, HSC (middle) run through a shot with Steadicam operator Gerry Vasbenter. Photos courtesy of Paramount Vantage. American Cinematographer 31
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