American Cinematographer - Quest for perfection KUBRICK

American Cinematographer – Quest for Perfection

By Ron Magid

October 1999

Following the death of film director Stanley Kubrick in 1999, several of his collaborators discuss the man and his work. Contributors include Larry Smith, cinematographer on Eyes Wide Shut; Ken Adam, production designer on Dr. Strangelove and Barry Lyndon; and Garrett Brown, steadicam operator on The Shining.

Without question, Stanley Kubrick was one of cinema's most imposing, exacting, independent, and fiercely original filmmakers. His work, which sometimes took decades to reach the screen, was shrouded in mystery, and once the films were finished, many of the elements that went into them -- sets, costumes, props, storyboards and preliminary designs -- were destroyed.

    John Alcott, BSC (camera assistant/cinematographer, 2001: A Space Odyssey; cinematographer, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining): When you're with Stanley, the working relationship benefits from picture to picture. We've collaborated together since 1965, and in working with him, there is always a different outlook, a different idea: 'Let's try something different. Is there any way of doing this differently? Is there any way of making this much better than it was before?' I feel that when you have as much time as we had on The Shining to make sure that the sets are right and that the art director is building them to your lighting design, it is a great privilege. You don't have that privilege when you work with somebody who lacks the visual perception that Stanley has. He is willing to bend over backwards to give you something you may desire in the way of a new lighting technique, which is a great help. As time goes on, Stanley has become more thorough and more exacting in his demands. One has to go away after having done a film with him, gather knowledge, come back, and try to put that knowledge together with his knowledge into another film. He is, and I've said this before, very demanding. He demands perfection, but he will give you all the help you need if he thinks that whatever you want to do will accomplish the desired result. He will give you full power to do it -- but, at the same time, it must work. (From AC Aug. 1980.)