What Would be a Good Study?

Doc Bernard

Indie Arms Member
I need to shoot a scene, and obviously I would want a good DP. But in the mean time, I need to start figuring things out for myself if that does not happen.

The scene:
Absolute homage to Tonino Delli Colli and his type of DP. Needs to absolutely have that "Spaghetti Western" feel. This will be a scene of a Western gunfight: 2 actors, middle of town.

Location, Actors, Music, are all locked. Now to write it, LOL. And start trying to story board it.

I am looking to emulate those "classic" shots.........I know in GBU, there was the extreme wide 3 shot that was cut in between, and ECU of the eyes dollying L/R to reveal the other actor in distance.

Then there will be capturing that grainy look in post.......LOL, but we'll leave that for another post.


Ideas?
 
To me the quintessential "Spaghetti Western" scene is the opening to "Once Upon a Time in the West". Directed by Sergio Leone and photographed Tonino Delli Colli. Make sure you get that 2.33:1 aspect ratio of the two perf Techniscope!


Here is the longer version, in Italian,

 
Oh dear gods in heaven......

I so forgot about this one. Classic Charles Bronson in a Western. Been focusing on Clint Eastwood for this genre. Thanks!!!!!!!!
 
Interesting how the shooting styles match......... I am so getting into this. The location is backing me 100% financially to get this shot. Just need to get all the ducks and chickens in a row.....

And do it right.
 
Good luck on that Doc. It sounds like a great project. I love the Western genre. There are a lot of great westerns out there to study, but as a change of pace from just watching Spaghetti westerns, I also recommend giving Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch", photographed by Lucien Ballard ASC, a day in court. I think that Peckinpah raises the western to a point where it is more than popular entertainment and more akin to a Wagnerian opera, or a lavish Greek tragedy, with this film. I recommend giving it a look. Here is a youtube clip of the opening titles. Let me advise that, after the point this clip ends, mayhem ensues!. The ending shoot out is also amazing. I recommend giving it a look.


EDIT: BTW.... Check out that cast!!!
 
LOL, the goal is to give acknowledgement to all of those DoP's and Directors. Something that anybody that had followed that genre would recognize. The location I deal with screams and demands that..... LOL.
 
To me the quintessential "Spaghetti Western" scene is the opening to "Once Upon a Time in the West". Directed by Sergio Leone and photographed Tonino Delli Colli. Make sure you get that 2.33:1 aspect ratio of the two perf Techniscope!


Here is the longer version, in Italian,


I looked into this a while back, in relationship to shooting in 'bright noon day sun'. Initially I thought there was a big, perhaps some what reflective bounce. Then in researching, I ran across BTS shot, and they had 'big lights'... not that I know exactly... but perhaps 18/20K arc lamps... or whatever was available in the era.

So, my 'guess' is now that the sun was 'balanced' with big lights. The image I was analyzing was:

33-henry-fonda-theredlist.jpg


Then there is this BTS shot. (Can't find the other one I was thinking of... one of these days I' got to get organized...) Which has a very different light... well I presume light...

Once-Upon-a-Time-in-the-West-1968.jpg
 
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