Clubhouse Conversations — Paradise

In this episode, cinematographer Yasu Tanida is joined by interviewer Rodney Taylor, ASC to discuss his work on Paradise — the political-thriller series from creator Dan Fogelman that explores the aftermath of a U.S. president's assassination.

Paradise tells the story of an elaborate government cover-up, which is slowly discovered by stoic federal agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) as he investigates the murder of former President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). Tanida, who previously collaborated with Fogelman on the acclaimed familial-drama series This Is Us, was tasked with shooting all episodes of the show's first season.

In this interview, Tanida discusses his framing, lens and lighting choices in crafting Paradise’s stylized, yet grounded look; how he designed flashback scenes to feel seamless within the show’s temporal structure; how his use of handheld and shoulder-mounted camera work helped to convey emotionally charged moments; how interdepartmental collaboration helped achieve some of the show's most complex lighting setups, such as those used for pivotal interrogation scenes and for a cavernous underground environment; his extensive camera tests and customization of LUTs, and more.

Yasu Tanida is a cinematographer whose credits include the series Community, The Blacklist, Greek and This Is Us, as well as the Spirit Award-winning feature August Evening. In 2007, he was named one of Variety’s “10 Cinematographers to Watch."

Rodney Taylor, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include the series Ballers, Swagger and Heels.

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