RIP Gordon Willis, ASC.

[Emanuel]

All this craziness on high ISOs comes from his legacy, among others, such as Kubrick or Storaro, of course. I guess all of them loved the 'film noir', actually, the German Expressionism to have moved to Hollywood. Also a minimal concept of light and shadow brought to the mainstream, never seen before except with the italians or french (or Cassavetes in America) three, two, one decades before. But not strictly for aesthetic reasons. To us, arrived as the 'light fimmaking' possible to conquer the world today in Sundance. Even if my mom complains the movies are too dark nowadays... : D Those were golden days when men like him changed forever the way the movies could be made.

We also owe this to him.

Emanuel

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/the-godfather-cinematographer-gordon-willis-dies-at-82-1201185649/

 

[groveChuck]

Thanks for embracing the shadows, Gordon- "The Prince of Darkness" will be missed!!! :beer:

Man, I miss 70's cinema!

 

[Batutta]

Truly responsible for some of the most indelible images ever photographed. RIP.

 

[combatentropy]

"We're in a world now and in a business where people perceive complexity as good. People don't understand the elegance of simplicity. . . . And don't get Simple mixed up with Simplistic. . . . You know, you hit somebody in the face with a pie. . . . Simple is your choices. One light coming through a window might be quite beautiful. That's all you need. You don't need six other lights, because why are you doing all of this, by habit or by need?" --- Gordon Willis

 

[Denis Haineault]

Peace dude

 

[cyclone]

Had his son DP for me (Gordon WIllis, Jr.). Didn't get along with his dad - in fact, asked me to not even speak about him.

 

[combatentropy]

Interesting. Sad, but common in this world.

 

[combatentropy]

His name came up in another thread, Marathon Man (1976). To avoid derailing that topic too much, I thought I would post these Youtube videos here.

• Cinematographer Gordon Willis talks about Godfather (3:36). He and other cinematographers discuss his bold choices. "I just simply did it because I liked it." If you look in the comments you'll see one from someone who claims to be his grandson.
• Cinematography Style: Gordon Willis (10:59). Describes some his technical choices in detail. The only correction I would make is that on the Flat 35mm format (21.95 x 11.86mm), the 40mm lens, his favorite, the "Gordy Forty", isn't slightly wide, it's mildly telephoto.
• Gordon Willis Extended Interview (57:44). An hour-long interview for the most devoted fans.