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Clubhouse Conversations — Joker: Folie à Deux
In this episode, cinematographer Lawrence Sher, ASC is joined by interviewer Patrick Cady, ASC to discuss his work on the musical crime drama Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips.
Joker: Folie à Deux follows failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he finds the love of his life, Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga), while incarcerated in a lunatic asylum.
In this interview, Sher discusses integrating practical effects and hand-painted backdrops with virtual-production techniques to create immersive environments; blending improvisational, jazz-like cinematography with precise framing; the challenges of capturing dynamic lighting shifts; working with the lead actors to explore their characters in real time; creating limitations to guide creative decisions, and the joys and technical complexities of the project.
Editor’s note: In-depth coverage of Joker: Folie à Deux appears in American Cinematographer’s December 2024 issue.
Lawrence Sher, ASC is a cinematographer whose features include Joker, for which he won a Camerimage Golden Frog and received Academy and ASC award nominations, The Hangover and Garden State.
Patrick Cady, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include the series Bosch, The Code, Insecure and Rectify and the features Paint, Looking Glass and Girlfight.