American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 24

Colorful con man Steven Russell (Jim Carrey) finds true love in prison with Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) in the comedy I Love You Phillip Morris, shot by Xavier Pérez Grobet, ASC, AMC.

I

A Daring Romance By David Heuring

I Love You Phillip Morris marks the directing debut of writing team Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, and cinematographer Xavier Pérez Grobet, ASC, AMC recalls that when he asked them why they wanted to direct, they said, “We’ve repeatedly watched other directors destroy our vision. Now it’s our turn to destroy our vision.” Sharp humor is an important
24 December 2010

element of I Love You Phillip Morris , a comedy based on the true story of Steven Russell (Jim Carrey), a closeted homosexual whose life is changed by a car accident. After coming out of the closet and leaving his wife (Leslie Mann), he becomes a con man and lands in prison, where he falls in love with a fellow inmate, Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Once Morris is released, Russell escapes from prison four times in order to be with him. “This is essentially a love story about
American Cinematographer

two people who will do almost anything to be together,” says Grobet. The visual style, which he describes as “free, open and unrestrained,” often dictated a handheld camera. (Grobet usually operated the A camera, while Brian Nordheim was on the B camera.) A handheld camera was also well suited to Carrey’s improvisational style, which kept the camera crew on their toes. Grobet recalls, “Jim usually did two or three takes along the lines of what he’d discussed with the directors, but then he would do as many as 10 takes going off in completely different directions, and we had to be prepared to capture all that.” The filmmakers’ spontaneous approach was a key factor in their decision to shoot on film. “Glenn was initially interested in shooting digital, and we tested some high-end digital cameras, but with the style we had in mind, I knew I would want the camera to become an extension of my body,” explains Grobet. “We had a tight schedule, and I was afraid of spending a lot of time with cables and in tents — all the stuff that comes with digital. This film had a lot of scenes that required mobility and freedom. “I also felt that the texture of film was better suited to the emotion in the

I Love You Phillip Morris photosby Patti Perret and Glen Watson, courtesy of Roadside Attractions.



American Cinematographer - December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - December 2010

American Cinematographer - December 2010
Contents
Editor’s Note
President’s Desk
Short Takes: “Dot”
Production Slate
Danse Macabre
Up Against It
Romantic Chemistry
A Big-City Dream
Post Focus: 3-D Workflow at Company 3
Tomorrow’s Technology
Filmmakers’ Forum: Michael Grady
New Products & Services
International Marketplace
Classified Ads
Ad Index
2010 AC Index
ASC Membership Roster
Clubhouse News
ASC Close-Up
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - American Cinematographer - December 2010
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 1
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 2
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Contents
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 4
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 5
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 6
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 7
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Editor’s Note
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 9
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - President’s Desk
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 11
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Short Takes: “Dot”
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 13
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 14
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 15
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 16
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 17
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Production Slate
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 19
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 20
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 21
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 22
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 23
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 24
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 25
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 26
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 27
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 28
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 29
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Danse Macabre
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 31
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 32
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 33
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 34
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 35
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 36
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 37
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 38
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 39
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 40
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 41
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 42
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 43
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 44
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 45
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 46
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 47
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 48
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 49
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Up Against It
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 51
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 52
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 53
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 54
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 55
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 56
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 57
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 58
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 59
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 60
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 61
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 62
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 63
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Romantic Chemistry
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 65
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 66
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 67
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 68
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 69
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 70
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 71
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 72
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 73
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 74
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 75
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - A Big-City Dream
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 77
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 78
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 79
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 80
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 81
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 82
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 83
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 84
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 85
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 86
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 87
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Post Focus: 3-D Workflow at Company 3
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 89
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 90
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 91
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Tomorrow’s Technology
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 93
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Filmmakers’ Forum: Michael Grady
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 95
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - New Products & Services
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 97
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 98
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 99
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 100
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 101
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - International Marketplace
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 103
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Ad Index
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 2010 AC Index
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 106
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 107
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 108
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 109
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 110
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 111
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - ASC Membership Roster
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 113
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Clubhouse News
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - 115
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - ASC Close-Up
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - December 2010 - Cover4
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