Wally Pfister, ASC
The Prestige

Wally Pfister, ASC was born and raised in Chicago. He began his career as a news photographer in Washington, D.C., and segued into documentaries. Pfister enrolled in the cinematography program at the American Film Institute, and shifted his focus to dramatic filmmaking. He worked in various crew roles on low-budget films produced by Roger Corman. In 1998, Pfister shot the independent feature The Hi-Line, which premiered at Sundance. He has since shot an array of feature films, including Memento, Insomnia, Laurel Canyon and The Italian Job. This is Pfister’s second consecutive Oscar nomination following last year’s kudos for Batman Begins,which also earned an ASC Outstanding Achievement Award nomination.

“Our lighting in the beginning of the story was motivated by candles and gas lamps. By the end, itwas electricity and light bulbs. The different looks are subtle, but the electrical lights are a little brighter and purer white. The gas lamps and firelight were a little bit warmer…a red-yellow tone…and not quite as bright.”

At turn-of-the-century London, Robert (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred (Christian Bale) are intense, talented magicians with a passion for secrecy and supremacy in the competition to be the best. However, their rivalry escalates into obsession, deceit and jealousy with dangerous and deadly consequences for everyone around them.

Local 600's Online Interview of Wally Pfister

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