Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

How to Choose a DP w/Matt & Oren - Just Shoot It 478

·48 min·4 clips

Matt and Oren reveal how choosing a cinematographer can make or break your filmmaking career.

In episode 478 of Just Shoot It, hosts Matt Enloe and Oren Kaplan engage in a conversation about hiring cinematographers, a key decision in filmmaking. They start by reflecting on their early aspirations influenced by directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Wes Anderson, who often work with the same teams, but note how real-world factors like scheduling and career trajectories complicate this ideal. Oren points out that cinematographers typically shoot more projects than directors, allowing them to progress faster. Matt shares an anecdote about working with cinematographer Kramer, who shot Thor and Game of Thrones, and questions whether the DP or the project itself boosted his career. The hosts identify three main considerations when hiring a DP: prestige or reputation, working methodology, and artistry. They discuss how these factors interplay, with Matt emphasizing that producers often prioritize speed and budget over artistic merit. Oren talks about his evolution from working with one or two DPs to having a stable of several, and how he now prioritizes familiarity over novelty. Practical aspects like a DP owning gear, travel compatibility, and regional experience are also covered. Matt mentions using spreadsheets to track DPs, while Oren relies on Instagram discoveries, producer recommendations, and agency lists. They advise interviewing DPs to assess compatibility, focusing on specific past work to gauge approach and personality. The episode concludes with endorsements for film screenings and AI tools, encouraging listeners to stay adaptable in the industry.

As heard by us

A grounded discussion of hiring a cinematographer who can help a bare brief grow into a more considered image.

Matt Enloe and Oren Kaplan keep this single-episode review grounded in the practical question of how cinematographers get hired, with the conversation staying close to set work, taste, and collaboration.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You are choosing a cinematographer and want a candid filmmaking conversation before the curtains go up.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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