Clubhouse Conversations — Dune: Part Two

Editors' note: In-depth coverage of Dune: Part Two first appeared in American Cinematographer's November 2024 issue. Read an excerpt of the story here, and for an even deeper dive, read "Afterfilming" — a 135-page production report provided exclusively to AC by cinematographer Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS. Learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.

In this episode, cinematographer Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS and director Denis Villeneuve are joined by interviewer Wally Pfister, ASC to discuss their work on Dune: Part Two — the second half of their acclaimed two-part feature adaptation of the classic science-fiction saga Dune.

Dune: Part Two follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he joins forces with Chani (Zendaya) and the indigenous Fremen people of Arrakis to seek retribution for those who destroyed his family. Speaking with AC this year, Fraser declared the project to be “the hardest film I’ve ever done, from a practical standpoint” on account of “all the spinning plates and units going at the same time.”

In this interview, Fraser and Villeneuve discuss developing the film's immersive visual style; capturing desert landscapes using natural light; how their use of Unreal Engine informed the production's precise approach to lighting and scheduling; how their work with production designer Patrice Vermette helped craft the look of each of the film's distinct planetary environments, and more.

Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS is a cinematographer whose storied filmography includes Killing Them Softly (2012), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Foxcatcher (2014), Lion (2016), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Vice (2018), Dune: Part One (2021) and The Batman (2022). In 2017, he was nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar for Lion, and win the honor in 2022 for his work on Dune: Part One. In 2022, he earned an ASC Award nomination for his work on The Batman.

Denis Villeneuve is a director whose films include Incendies (2010), Prisoners (2013), Sicario (2015), Arrival (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Dune: Part One (2021). He received Academy Award nominations for Arrival and Dune: Part One.

Wally Pfister, ASC is a filmmaker whose cinematography credits include Batman Begins (2005), The Prestige (2006), The Dark Knight (2008) and Inception (2010). He received Best Cinematography Oscar nominations for all of these works, winning one for Inception in 2011.

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