Clubhouse Conversations — Challengers

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

In this episode, cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is joined by interviewer Nathaniel Goodman, ASC to discuss his work on Challengers — the romantic drama from director Luca Guadagnino that explores a complex love triangle between fiercely competitive tennis pros.

Challengers tells the story of Tashi (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach, who helps propel her husband, Art (Mike Faist), from mediocrity to grand-slam fame. To shake Mike out of a losing streak, Tashi enters him into a low-level challenger tournament, where he faces Patrick (Josh O’Connor) — his ex-best friend and Tashi’s former lover — as the players' intense personal and professional rivalries are rekindled. The film marks Mukdeeprom's third collaboration with Guadagnino, following their work together on Call My by Your Name and Suspiria in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

In this interview, Mukdeeprom discusses the intricate lighting setups required for the film's naturalistic, yet heightened scenes; his approach to shooting the film's constrained apartment location; the making of a vibrant party sequence; his incorporation of handheld camera work and POV shots to amplify tension during the film's climactic tennis match, and more.

Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is a cinematographer who rose to prominence after shooting the 2010 film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, which won the Palm d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. He later received more international acclaim for his work on the Academy Award-winning 2017 feature Call Me By Your Name. His other feature credits include the 2018 remake of Suspiria.

Nathaniel Goodman, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include the shows Swamp Thing, Timeless (for which he earned an ASC Award nomination in 2019), Falling Skies, Heroes and Made for Love (for which he earned an Emmy nomination in 2021).

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