Clubhouse Conversations — Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

In this episode, cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi, ASC and writer-director Scott Cooper are joined by interviewer Rodney Taylor, ASC to discuss their work on Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere — a biographical musical drama that explores the personal and artistic challenges faced by Bruce Springsteen during the making of his 1982 album Nebraska.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere finds the eponymous singer-songwriter (Jeremy Allen White) renting a home in Colts Neck, New Jersey, near his hometown of Freehold, in search of an under-the-radar existence at the height of his fame. Amid episodes of familial strife and failed romance, Springsteen seizes upon this period of relative isolation to write and record Nebraska — a stark and intensely personal folk album inspired by his blue-collar roots. The film marks the fifth collaboration between Takayanagi and Cooper, following their work together on Out of the Furnace, Black Mass, Hostiles and The Pale Blue Eye.

Conversation Highlights

Takayanagi and Cooper's conversation with Taylor explores a range of strategies, as well as the creative and practical challenges they encountered, including:

• Creating a cinematic language that would reflect the stripped-down quality of Springsteen's Nebraska
• Shifting from black-and-white/anamorphic to color/spherical photography to distinguish between time periods
• How their lens tests helped shape the film's intimate visual tone
• Their technical and philosophical approach to crafting oners
• Shooting on location in New Jersey and New York to capture an authentic vision of Springsteen's world

Masanobu Takayanagi, ASC is a cinematographer whose feature credits include Warrior, The Grey, Hostiles, and State of Play. He received the ASC Heritage Award in 2003.

Scott Cooper is a writer, director and producer whose feature credits include Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace, Black Mass, Hostiles, Antlers and The Pale Blue Eye.

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.

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios.