Clubhouse Conversations — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Editors’ note: In-depth coverage of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga first appeared in American Cinematographer's September 2024 issue. Read an excerpt of the story here — and learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.

In this episode, cinematographer Simon Duggan, ASC, ACS is joined by interviewer Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS to discuss his work on Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga — the prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road that follows its eponymous hero's coming of age and harsh journey through a postapocalyptic world.

The film's story is set in motion when Furiosa (played as a child by Alyla Browne and as a young adult by Anya Taylor-Joy) is abducted from her home and, over an ensuing period of many bitter and brutal years, pitted against the mad warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Furiosa marks the first collaboration between Duggan and writer-director George Miller, and was shot across a wide range of locations in Australia — the Mad Max series' country of origin — years after unruly weather had forced Miller and his crew to move Fury Road's production to South Africa.

In this interview, Duggan discusses his work with Miller on developing the film's hyper-stylized cinematographic approach; the production's use of Unreal Engine for precise previsualization of complex action sequences; how the filmmakers' lighting and lens selection helped complement the film's immersive environs; the integration of practical and digital elements to enhance the story's visuals, and more.

Simon Duggan, ASC, ACS is a cinematographer whose feature credits include I, Robot (2004), The Great Gatsby (2013) and Hacksaw Ridge (2016).

Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS is a cinematographer whose feature credits include Australia (2008), Hidden Figures (2016), Mulan (2020) and Elvis (2022). In 2023, she earned an Academy Award nomination and an ASC Award win for her work in Elvis.

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