May 15, 2017

Video Interview with Bradford Young, ASC – Part 2

Part 2 of a video interview with Bradford Young, ASC during Camerimage. Bradford speaks candidly about his experience as an African-American cinematographer, freely “unpacking” the practice of his culture, including the shooting Selma by Ava DuVernay.

Benjamin B

This is part 2 of a video interview I did with Bradford Young, ASC during Camerimage. Bradford speaks candidly about his experience as an African-American cinematographer, freely “unpacking” the practice of his culture, including the shooting Selma by Ava DuVernay.

You may want to look at part 1 if you haven’t already seen it.

1. Bradford Young

Bradford Young is a powerful cinematographer who has distinguished himself in the past decade with a series of striking independent features. His film credits include: Pariah (2011), Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013), Mother of George (2013), Selma (2014), A Most Violent Year (2014), Pawn Sacrifice (2015) and Arrival (2016).

Bradford has received an Independent Spirit prize, and awards from the Sundance Festival and BET, as well as BAFTA and Oscar nominations for his beautifully subdued work on Arrival by Denis Villeneuve, which also earned him the Silver Frog at Camerimage. It’s worth noting that Bradford is the first African-American to be nominated for a cinematography Oscar.

Bradford is presently working on the next Star Wars film.

2. Video Interview – Part 2

Our video discussion was shot by French cinematographer Eloi Rimmelspacher in my room at the Holiday Inn during Camerimage. Sitting in were Matthew Zschoche — a friend of Bradford’s who offered to do the lighting — and my friend (and ASC associate member) Dan Sasaki from Panavision.