Clubhouse Conversations — Apple TV+ Roundtable

Editors' note: In-depth coverage of Masters of the Air first appeared in American Cinematographer's April 2024 issue. Learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.

In this episode, cinematographers Richard Rutkowski, ASC, Blake McClure, ASC, Robert Humphreys and David Lanzenberg are joined by interviewer Dave Perkal, ASC to discuss their latest respective works for Apple TV+ — Masters of the Air, Loot, Manhunt and Palm Royale.

Masters of the Air, shot by Rutkowski, follows the American 100th Bomb Group during World War II, as the crews carry out perilous missions to destroy targets in Nazi-occupied Europe.

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Loot, shot by McClure, is a comedy centered on Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph), a newly single divorcée whose split from her billionaire ex-husband, John Novak (Adam Scott), makes her the third-wealthiest woman in the world. Molly decides to run the charitable foundation she forgot she founded in the first place — much to the chagrin of its employees.

Manhunt, shot by Humphreys, is a historical-drama miniseries that follows Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) on his search for John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) after Abraham Lincoln (Hamish Linklater) is assassinated.

Palm Royale, shot by Lanzenberg, is a period dramedy in which Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Kirsten Wiig) seeks to carve out a place for herself in an exclusive country club in Palm Beach, Fl.

During this roundtable conversation, Rutkowski, McClure, Humphreys and Lazenberg discuss a wide range of topics, including how to create documentary-style realism in a period piece; the benefits of both single-cam and multi-cam shoots; altering lenses to achieve various desired looks; shooting aerial-action sequences on an LED volume; the importance of collaboration across departments, and more.

Richard Rutkowski, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include the series The Americans, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Manhattan.

Blake McClure, ASC is a cinematographer whose television credits include Saturday Night Live (2016-2018), Minx and Drunk History (2013-2016), for which he won an ASC Award in 2014.

Robert Humphreys is a cinematographer whose credits include Apples Never Fall, Shantaram, Harrow, The Leftovers, and Fear of the Walking Dead.

David Lanzenberg is a cinematographer whose credits include the features Peppermint and The Age of Adeline and the series You, Wednesday, and Riverdale.

Dave Perkal, ASC is a cinematographer working in film, TV and commercials whose recent series credits include Marvel’s Runaways, Netflix's Cowboy Bebop and Warner Bros.' The Vampire Diaries.

You’ll find all episodes in our ASC Clubhouse Conversations discussion series here.