Eric R. Anderson
Yellow Bird

The Cinematographer

Eric R. Anderson was born in Philadelphia and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He developed an interest in film at an early age when he picked up his first Brownie around the age of five.

Anderson attended the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he created several award-winning short films. After earning his degree, Anderson moved to Southern California and got his first break when he worked with Jan De Bont, ASC as a first assistant cameraman on Roar. That led to opportunities to assist Paul Ryan, ASC, Bob Primes, ASC, and Hiro Narita, ASC on other films.

Anderson has accumulated 20 years of experience in Hollywood. During that time, he has continued to shoot commercials, industrials, independent features, and shorts. He joined the Cinematographers Guild in 1985.

The Film

Yellow Bird is a short film based on a Tennessee Williams story about a young woman who becomes infected with a love of life, represented by the Yellow Bird. The film was produced and directed by Faye Dunaway. Cynthia Watros and Michael Pitt star in the leading roles and are supported by Academy Award®-winning actors James Coburn, Brenda Blethyn and Dunaway.

Anderson’s approach was to shoot the film in a “classical” style with a conservative shot selection, and keeping the “big screen” in mind. “I rarely used diffusion on the lens,” says Anderson. “Lighting is classical as well, with motivated keys and backlight. The film is a period piece set in the south and Faye made sure we were blessed with great locations and costumes.”