Clubhouse Conversations — Train Dreams

In-depth coverage of cinematographer Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP's work on Train Dreams is featured in American Cinematographer's December 2025 issue. Learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.

In this episode, cinematographer Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP is joined by interviewer Eduard Grau, ASC, AEC to discuss his work on Train Dreams — an historical drama from director Clint Bentley that explores 80 years in the life of a logger and railroad worker in early-20th century America.

Adapted from Denis Johnson's 2011 novella of the same name, Train Dreams tells the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), who arrives in Bonners Ferry, Idaho via the Great Northern Railway as an orphaned child, and grows to become a husband and father who builds a life along the Moyie River. Working as a laborer on the construction of the Spokane International Railway, he bears witness to events and suffers losses that forever alter his life and view of a rapidly changing world. The film marks Veloso's second feature collaboration with Bentley, following their work together on the 2021 drama Jockey.

Conversation Highlights

Veloso's conversation with Grau explores a range of strategies, as well as the creative and practical challenges he encountered, including:

• Building upon the documentary-influenced approach he developed with Bentley on their previous feature to create a larger period piece with the same sense of intimacy
• His camera and lenses of choice for shooting predominantly with natural light
• His approach to lighting key scenes exclusively with real candles and oil lamps
• Planning the crew's schedule around sunrise and sunset to optimize shoot days
• Working closely with actor Joel Edgerton to best capture the quiet, physical performance at the heart of the story

Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP is a cinematographer whose credits include Becoming Elizabeth, Labrinth: Miracle and Tagua Tagua: Rastro de Pó. He has received four Camerimage award nominations, and one ASC Award nomination for his work on the 2021 feature Jockey.

Eduard Grau, ASC, AEC is a cinematographer whose credits include the features A Single Man (2009), Suffragette (2015), The Gift (2015) and Passing (2021).

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

Images courtesy of Netflix.