Clubhouse Conversations — September 5

In this episode, cinematographer Markus Förderer, ASC, BVK is joined by interviewer Tommy Maddox Upshaw, ASC to discuss his work on the period drama September 5, which tells the story of an ABC Sports crew assigned to the 1972 Munich Olympics who find themselves reporting on a hostage crisis after terrorists attack the Israeli team. The film is directed by Tim Fehlbaum.

In this interview, Förderer discusses how he used multiple formats and modern and vintage lenses to create a dynamic visual language; how the filmmakers incorporated pre-programmed flicker effects and LED lighting to evoke tension and create a period-correct look in the newsroom; capturing energy via handheld camerawork and long takes; balancing historical accuracy with visual creativity, including recreating archival footage and employing practical effects such as miniatures; the importance of lens detuning and custom lighting for maintaining a tactile period aesthetic; and navigating the ethics of compressing 22 hours’ worth of real events into a 90-minute narrative.

Markus Förderer, ASC, BVK is a cinematographer whose credits include the features Constellation, Red Notice, The Colony, I Origins and Hell, which was nominated for the Camerimage Golden Frog for Best Cinematography Debut.

Tommy Maddox-Upshaw, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include the feature White Men Can’t Jump (2023) and the series Snowfall, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Empire.

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