Transcript of Richard Crudo Chat November 7, 1999 (Note: All questions asked during the chat session are filtered through Moderator.) Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:10:00 PM) First of all, I would like to say that's it's a pleasure to chat with you. My question is: which film that you worked in is or was more memorable to you and why? And is there someone that influenced you to become a Director of Photography? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:11:00 PM) Two films, I would say. The little known Music from Another Room because of the delightful collaboration with the director Charlie Peters... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:11:40 PM) The other would be, American Pie, simply because it was a nice collaboration and my first really big commercial success... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:12:16 PM) As to your second question, there's no one individual who influenced me to become... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:12:37 PM) a dp, but a culmination of a lot of different films, love of photography... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:12:45 PM) and certain individuals. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:13:57 PM) George Dibie has this question: At the beginning of your career, you shot Federal Hill and when it was colorized for TV, you took a stand. Was there any trepidation? Were there any repercussions? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:14:25 PM) On Federal Hill, there was absolutely no trepidation about taking a stand... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:14:40 PM) The movie had been planned from day one to be presented in black and white... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:14:53 PM) It had its theatrical release in black and white... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:15:09 PM) and then at the final hour, in the form that it would live for eternity, suddenly... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:15:26 PM) we were told that it would go out to the public in color. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:15:42 PM) So obvisouly there was no choice but to speak up in the most vehement terms possible. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:15:52 PM) There were no reprocussion... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:16:12 PM) Ironically, there was a tremendous outpouring of support... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:16:20 PM) from the creative community... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:16:53 PM) This was the first film in history to be colorized while the director was still alive... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:17:22 PM) so as the co-creator of this film, it was incumbent upon me to make my feelings know. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:17:31 PM) And my feelings were that this was terribly wrong. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:18:35 PM) Steve Flint has this question: What do you think about "runaway" production? And how will it affect future of cinematography? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:18:58 PM) Runaway production is obviously the biggest problem facing us at this moment... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:19:16 PM) There are a lot of reasons why this trend is taking place... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:19:37 PM) but none of those reasons involve lack of talent or intiative on the part of the crews... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:19:48 PM) here in Hollywood where we have the best people in the world. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:20:07 PM) I think that as individuals people often feel powerless to act against this problem... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:20:22 PM) but our only hope is to hang together as a group and act aggressively... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:20:39 PM) to change our government's policies to ones more favorable to ourselves. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:21:01 PM) The Guild is helping lead the way... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:21:16 PM) and hopefully we'll see some positive developments soon. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:21:48 PM) As to how runaway production will affect the future of cinematography... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:22:08 PM) I hope it doesn't discourage aspiring talent from picking up the slack... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:22:27 PM) also, I hope it doesn't water down the talent pool. If every decision a producer makes... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:22:44 PM) is based purely on money, then every slot will be filled by the lowest bidder, rather... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:22:50 PM) than the best person for the job. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:23:22 PM) And the fact is, it's not always economically favorable to shoot in other places Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:23:57 PM) than the US. There's a certain bandwagon effect that's at work now... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:24:10 PM) and we have to try hard to derail that juggernaut. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:24:21 PM) Tim Wade had this question for you: How do you keep up with new technology, including all the new digital cameras? Will they make it easier for more people to become cinematographers? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:24:59 PM) Basically, read a lot, all the trade magazines out there... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:25:26 PM) attend all the Guild-sponsored seminars, and trade shows like trade-show expos... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:25:47 PM) excuse me, Show Biz Expo... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:26:01 PM) Talk with the manufacturers themselves and so on.... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:26:27 PM) As to whether or not it will make it easier for more people to become cinematographers, Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:26:33 PM) I don't believe that's true... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:26:42 PM) This trend today that we're seeing... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:26:56 PM) towards the "democratization" of film making... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:27:10 PM) is the biggest fraud perpetuated by manufacturers... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:27:23 PM) and know-nothing individuals. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:27:44 PM) It's almost akin to handing out typewriters to a bunch of chimpanzees... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:27:56 PM) and telling them their novelists... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:28:17 PM) It takes a long, long time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:28:34 PM) to become a true cinematographer. Just because you shot... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:28:46 PM) a music video doesn't mean you're qualified... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:28:56 PM) on any level to do any more than that... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:28:58 PM) There Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:29:07 PM) is so much more to the job... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:29:15 PM) than just getting an exposure. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:29:27 PM) Any of you chat room users---feel free to type in any questions you have whenever you want. judah (07-Nov-99 4:30:40 PM) Do you feel the cheap availabilty of equipment will erode the apprenticeship nature of the film industry, as has existed for many years? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:31:02 PM) I hope not, but probably simply because... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:31:20 PM) human nature is inherently lazy and will take the path of least resistance... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:31:38 PM) Nonetheless, there will always be people with talent, brains, commitment... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:31:43 PM) and passion who will take the time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:31:53 PM) to truly learn and understand their craft... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:32:28 PM) before deigning to call themselves a cinematographer. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:32:41 PM) You started your career working on camera crews. Would you make a different decision today, and start out shooting low budget films? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:33:37 PM) It's hard to say what I would do if I were starting out today... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:33:55 PM) The world has become so different in such a short time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:34:25 PM) I still think that even though everyone in the industry... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:34:42 PM) seems to come to their position in their own way, that the best road... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:34:56 PM) is the one that will give you the broadest experience. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:35:20 PM) I was always trying to shoot whatever I could get my hands on... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:35:29 PM) even during the time when I was loading magazines... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:35:45 PM) I never had the illusion, though, that what I was doing on my own time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:36:04 PM) was anything more than trial by error informed by... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:36:39 PM) the experiences I was having as a member of the camera crews for some of the best Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:36:46 PM) cinematographers in the world. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:37:33 PM) Is your next project lined up and how will you prepare for it? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:37:54 PM) My next project will be "I Was Made to Love Her"... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:38:13 PM) The directors will be Chris and Paul Weitz who also directed American Pie... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:38:24 PM) I think we're set for a January of 2000 start... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:38:41 PM) And it will be released by Paramount. Chris Rock will star in this remake of ... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:38:45 PM) Heaven Can Wait. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:39:02 PM) Chris, Paul and I are already spending a lot of time.. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:39:14 PM) discussing the look of the movie, most notably... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:39:27 PM) how to render the look of heaven in a new and interesting way. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:39:48 PM) We want to stay away from the dry ice against the white cyc approach... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:40:21 PM) Chris and Paul are committed to making a big leap in the visual sophistication of this film... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:40:34 PM) in comparison to American Pie. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:40:57 PM) And we're really trying hard to realize that. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:40:59 PM) Would you personally rather work on a big studio production--or a smaller independent feature? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:41:26 PM) I'm going to tell the truth... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:41:33 PM) I'd rather work on a big studio production... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:41:46 PM) Having done a good number of low-budget independents... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:00 PM) you find the situation is invariably one... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:10 PM) where you're trying to stuff 50 pounds of potatoes... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:14 PM) into a 5 pound bag. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:28 PM) It's rare that directors in the low-budget world... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:36 PM) try to make the best movie they can within their means... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:42:52 PM) It never pays to try to make Titanic on a Ed Wood budget... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:43:08 PM) At the upper level of the studio production, you're working with the best people... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:43:13 PM) who have the best taste... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:43:24 PM) and all the resources they need... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:43:29 PM) to realize their vision. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:43:38 PM) What are the next horizons for filmmaking--and for cinematography? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:43:50 PM) I wish I knew... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:44:07 PM) Certainly digital projection is somewhere in the not to distant future... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:44:13 PM) From what I've seen of it... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:44:28 PM) it has its plusses, but it's certainly no... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:44:51 PM) total solution or magic replacement for anything we've seen to date... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:44:58 PM) Change is happening so quickly... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:45:15 PM) not just in filmmaking, but in all segments of society... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:45:23 PM) that it can frightening at times... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:45:36 PM) You don't have any time to process anything or to make sense... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:45:47 PM) of what's going on. The one thing I can say is... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:46:01 PM) never mistake movement for progress. I use that over and over... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:46:21 PM) Just because something is new, doesn't mean it's better. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:46:36 PM) There's always going to be a segment who just have to have the newest thing... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:46:45 PM) I'll never understand that... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:47:11 PM) Progress is a great thing... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:47:36 PM) but hopefully the weeding out process... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:47:50 PM) will leave us with the best of it without causing us to lose... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:47:59 PM) any of the great things we've had with us for so long... Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:48:15 PM) As your films have gone to home video, have you supervised telecine or played a role? Is this going to become a more important issue with HDTV and DVD? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:48:32 PM) I Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:48:45 PM) I've supervised the transfer of every film I've shot as well as the printing... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:49:03 PM) It's not going to become more important. It will stay as important as it is... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:49:57 PM) Since theatrical run of a film is relatively brief, no matter how successful it is, you have to understand that... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:50:09 PM) the movie lives forever, essentially on tape or DVD... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:50:27 PM) so you want that to be as representative of your vision as much as what plays.. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:50:38 PM) on the screen. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:50:58 PM) DVD and HDTV are just delivering a higher-quality image to the home... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:51:06 PM) which is a win-win situation for everyone.... Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:51:31 PM) Is supervising the transfer on your own time, or is it done by the Studio, or does the Studio even care about it? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:53:16 PM) Supervising the transfer is done on your own time for the most part. And yes, the studio cares very much..they want you to do as good a job as possible with that as you wuld for the print version. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:54:42 PM) Telecine transfer is always an interesting experience because you have so much more latitude in what you can do to the image versus what's available at the lab. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:54:49 PM) As your films have gone to home video, have you supervised telecine or played a role? Is this going to become a more important issue with HDTV and DVD? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:55:17 PM) See above. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:56:02 PM) Which are the cinematographers who influenced your work? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:57:52 PM) There are so many... Gordon Willis, for starters. I was fortunate enough to have worked on his crew for awhile and I can't overestimate his influence in so many ways. Conrad Hall, of course. Jordan Cronenweth...John Bailey...John Alonzo, of course - Chinatown remains a touchstone for me in so many ways... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 4:59:36 PM) Kovacs, Zsigmond...I could go on... Then there are so many others who you look to for bits and pieces that you find over time make up an incredible reference catalog. Sometimes I'm not even aware of it until much later after I've shot a film. So much of it becomes part of your subconscious after awhile. Moderator (07-Nov-99 4:59:45 PM) How do hire crews when you work at different locations? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:00:21 PM) I try and bring my guys with me. This is no knock on local crews anywhere, because there are many talented people all over the country now... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:00:45 PM) but these are the people I know best and I feel a great loyalty to them because they stick with me on the bad ones as well as the good ones... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:02:05 PM) If my regular guys aren't available, I'm fortunate enough to know people that I can call on to fill the bill wherever I might be shooting. Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:02:16 PM) What have been the most important advances in film or camera or digital technology during recent years... and why do you feel that way? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:03:00 PM) Have there been any true advances? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:03:19 PM) The technology is outstanding, no matter how you look at it at this stage of the game... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:03:48 PM) What we need to start addressing is the thought processes that drive the creation and use of the technology... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:04:26 PM) Once again, I go back to the chimpanzee with the typewriter. What good is all the technology in the world in service of a lousy story? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:05:38 PM) Why do I feel that way? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:05:49 PM) Just take a look around our culture. There's not much out there... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:06:06 PM) in any arena at this time that the thoughtful person needs to be paying much attention to... Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:06:20 PM) Do you have any advice for someone at the very beginning of their career? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:06:51 PM) I think it's greatest way I can possibly imagine spending my working life... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:07:14 PM) As for specific advice, I wish I could tell you how to have passion, because that's what matters most of all. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:07:25 PM) If you have that all-consuming desire... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:07:42 PM) to become a cinematographer, there's nothing that will stop you from achieving that. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:08:13 PM) It's not an easy road by any means. Only people with true passion will be able to see it through. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:08:38 PM) That of course is in addition to applying yourself in every way imaginable to learning... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:08:48 PM) about the craft on a simple mechanical level. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:09:20 PM) That means reading books and related periodicals with a religious intensity, attending seminars, trade shows... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:09:32 PM) classes, visiting sets, working on sets... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:09:42 PM) in whatever capacity and so one. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:10:28 PM) Visiting rental houses is good too. Meeting people who work in the industry to expand your network of connections is also of critical importance. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:10:58 PM) Watching movies on tape or DVD has made studying the work of our great cinematographers easier than its ever been. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:11:22 PM) There's no excuse to have a dull moment if this is the life you choose to follow. Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:11:35 PM) Are there any last questions for Richard Crudo? Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:11:59 PM) How do you feel when you have to shoot at location far from home and dont get to spend time with your loved ones especially for the holidays? What about when a picture has to be shot during the holidays, do put it on hold, pass it by or what? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:12:30 PM) That's a good question and it's something we all have to deal with from time to time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:13:03 PM) This industry is notoriously hard on most people's notions of a traditional home life. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:13:24 PM) I've been blessed with a very supportive and understanding family... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:13:52 PM) and have somehow managed to make this work. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:14:21 PM) Fortunately, I have never had the gun to my head during the holidays and I'm sure I'll blow that bridge someday when I come to it. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:14:54 PM) Obviously, family has to come before anything else in your life, but you also have to make a living to support the family, so it's a double edged sword in many ways. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:15:32 PM) One factor working in our favor is that most of us love what we do with such an intensity... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:15:51 PM) that the benefits we derive from that carry over into our home lives... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:16:10 PM) And our loved ones recognize that and reap the benefits as well. Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:16:13 PM) how do you keep your sanity in between projects, while waiting for the next call? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:16:28 PM) I don't. My apartment is lined with padding... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:16:46 PM) and I've worn out certain sections where I bang my head regularly... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:17:22 PM) As much as I love to do what I do, the only thing I despise about it is the down time in between jobs. I've often said... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:17:55 PM) that when we're working they're paying us not for the job we're doing, but for the time we have off... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:18:16 PM) Seriously, though, the down time is not wasted time... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:18:37 PM) by any stretch. When we work, the job becomes so all encompassing... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:18:51 PM) that there's no time for anything else. You need time to recharge and rest... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:18:58 PM) and get ready for the next battle. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:19:27 PM) You can also bone up on the latest development, say hello to your family, and pursue hobbies that bring a new freshness to your work. Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:19:33 PM) If there aren't any more questions... Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:21:23 PM) Has there ever been a time where you were so stressed by your job that you feel that its worth working so many hours of your day? That you feel that it's a job and not love for what you do anymore? Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:21:54 PM) Everybody gets discouraged from time to time. And as we all know... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:21:59 PM) fatigue makes cowards of us all... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:22:20 PM) Sure, I've been discouraged and at times felt that the effort put out was not worth the return... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:22:58 PM) but even at the lowest point it's still a privilege to do this kind of work... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:23:24 PM) After a good night's rest, you can even start to see the humor in it. I can't tell you how many times... Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:23:46 PM) I've sat around with my crew having a couple of beers and laughing about some of our worst experiences... Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:23:53 PM) What was discussed in yesterday's membership meeting? I missed it. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:24:03 PM) I don't know. I wasn't there. Richard Crudo (07-Nov-99 5:24:15 PM) But I should have been. Moderator (07-Nov-99 5:25:04 PM) Well, thank you Richard, and thank you all.