Nathaniel Wilson
Up

The Cinematographer…

Nathaniel Wilson initially studied painting at the University of California, San Diego. After a year abroad at the Accademia di Belli Arti in Venice, Italy, he changed his major to film. Wilson saw filmmaking as a way to combine all the art forms he loved - painting, music, literature and drama. He was captivated by the cinematography on Blue Velvet, Apocalypse Now, and The Big Combo.

Wilson says that he has been influenced by working on camera crews with such directors and cinematographers as David Lynch, Jonathan Glazer, Malik Sayeed, Tony Kaye, Sam Bayer and Harris Savides. He is currently rated as a second assistant cameraman in the Guild. Wilson says he is concentrating on nurturing his ability to light in more intuitive and organic ways, and working with filmmakers who are willing to experiment.

The Film…

Up is about the battle waged within ourselves - the battle between different parts of our personalities. It reveals the struggle between the Dreamer, the Realist and the Doubter. The film was produced in 35mm format in standard Academy aperture (1.85:1 aspect ratio). With the director's similar background in painting and visual design, Wilson and the director paid close attention to shot design, achieving texture through film grain, sets and costumes, as well as color schemes to reflect the characters' mental states. Up won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Student Film Award in 2001 and is slated to tour the festival circuit in 2002.

Nathaniel Wilson and John C. Flinn III, ASC