American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 65

Photos by Hopper Stone, SMPSP, and Jasin Boland, courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Opposite: Capt.
Richard Phillips
(Tom Hanks) finds
himself in grave
danger after
Somali pirates take
him hostage in
Captain Phillips.
This page, top
(from left): The
four Somali
pirates, Najee
(Faysal Ahmed),
Muse (Barkhad
Abdi), Bilal
(Barkhad
Abdirahman) and
Elmi (Mahat Ali)
stand poised
aboard their skiff,
weapons in hand.
Bottom:
Cinematographer
Barry Ackroyd,
BSC, readies his
camera.

For Captain Phillips, which stars
Tom Hanks in the titular role and
Barkhad Abdi as Muse, that philosophy
meant shooting aboard real ships on the
open sea. Only 10 days of the 60-day
shoot were on solid ground, primarily
for lifeboat interiors at London's
Longcross Studios, where the 5-ton
fiberglass craft was rocked on a gimbal.
During April and most of May 2012,
the cast and crew traveled five miles off
the port of Malta to shoot on the
Maersk Alexandria, doubling for the
Maersk Alabama, or plunged into a
Malta water tank to shoot stunts involving Hanks. Then came two weeks on
the swells of the Atlantic, 10 miles out
from the Norfolk naval base in Virginia,
where they filmed the rescue operation
with real Navy battleships and personnel.
"You can imagine how difficult
this was for Barry and his crew,"
Greengrass says. "There were two
primary challenges. The first was shooting on water and everything that means.
There's motion through every single
plane: up and down, side to side and
everything in between. You're at the

mercy of the weather and trying to
create stability where there is none. The
second challenge was the confined
spaces, especially the lifeboat, which
was tiny."
Plus, the days were long, often
extending well into night, and getting
around the ships was physically
difficult. "It was a tremendous feat
www.theasc.com

of concentration and endurance,"
Greengrass says, "but there wasn't a
thing Barry wouldn't do or a place he
wouldn't go."
Contemplating the logistics of
shooting on water, miles from technical
support, led the production to choose
film as its primary acquisition medium.
Thinking about handholding the
November 2013

65



http://www.theasc.com

American Cinematographer - November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - November 2013

Contents
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 1
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 2
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 3
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 4
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Contents
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 6
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 7
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 8
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 9
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 10
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 11
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 12
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 13
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 14
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 15
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 16
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 17
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 18
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 19
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 20
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 21
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 22
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 23
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 24
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 25
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 26
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 27
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 28
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 29
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 30
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 31
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 32
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 33
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 34
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 35
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 36
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 37
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 38
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 39
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 40
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 41
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 42
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 43
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 44
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 45
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 46
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 47
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 48
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 49
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 50
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 51
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 52
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 53
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 54
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 55
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 56
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 57
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 58
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 59
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 60
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 61
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 62
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 63
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 64
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 65
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 66
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 67
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 68
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 69
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 70
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 71
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 72
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 73
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 74
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 75
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 76
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 77
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 78
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 79
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 80
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 81
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 82
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 83
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 84
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 85
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 86
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 87
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 88
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 89
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 90
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 91
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 92
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 93
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 94
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 95
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 96
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 97
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 98
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 99
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 100
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 101
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 102
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 103
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 104
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 105
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 106
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 107
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 108
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 109
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 110
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 111
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - 112
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - November 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com