In this episode, director Ellen Kuras, ASC and cinematographer Paweł Edelman, PSC are joined by interviewer Erik Messerschmidt, ASC, to discuss their work on Lee — the biographical drama that charts the life and indelible work of photojournalist Lee Miller.
Lee tells the story of Elizabeth “Lee” Miller (Kate Winslet), a photographer and fashion model who became a war correspondent for Vogue during World War II, and ultimately captured some of the most striking and harrowing moments of the era. The film marks Kuras’ feature directorial debut, and earned Edelman a nomination for Camerimage’s Golden Frog Award at its 2023 edition.
In this interview, Kuras and Edelman discuss re-creating Miller’s iconic imagery through the use of natural light and period-specific design; the challenges of shooting across multiple countries on tight schedules while preserving visual continuity; the use of the Arri Alexa 35 and on-set grading on the production; how they balanced historical accuracy and artistic license to craft an impactful narrative, and more.
Ellen Kuras, ASC is a filmmaker whose cinematography credits include Pretend It’s a City, David Byrne’s American Utopia, Summer of Sam and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In addition to Lee — her feature directorial debut — she helmed the Oscar-nominated documentary The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), which she also shot.
Paweł Edelman, PSC is a Polish cinematographer whose works include The Pianist (2002), Oliver Twist (2005), and Ray (2005). For The Pianist, he was nominated for both an Academy Award and an ASC Award. He also received an ASC Award nomination for his work on Ray.
You’ll find all episodes in our ASC Clubhouse Conversations discussion series here.
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