Phedon Papamichael, ASC on The Trial of the Chicago 7, working with writer/director Aaron Sorkin, and more

Phedon Papamichael's latest project is The Trial of the Chicago 7,
written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. The bulk of the story centers
on the 1969 trial of seven men accused of inciting a riot in the
park outside of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
In Phedon's view, a film is actually made three times: it's
conceived in the writing process, developed during principal
photography, then reinvented and finalized in the editing process.
When working with a director and writer like Aaron Sorkin, the way
the film is scripted is exactly what he wants to see on the screen.
The person speaking must be on camera, and specific shots are
needed to sync with the rhythm of his words, like a poem. Sorkin is
not a technical filmmaker, and after their initial meeting, Phedon
knew Sorkin would rely heavily on him for creating the visuals.
Since the majority of the action takes place in the courtroom,
Phedon had to generate visual interest, making sure they had the
right lenses and angles to enhance the drama, and to get good
reaction shots of the jury and spectators. He used the lighting
within the courtroom to enhance the moods and tension, and adjusted
the light coming through the windows to reflect the changing
seasons. When shooting the protests in the park and the violent
clashes with the police, the camera crew went hand-held documentary
style. Some of the footage from the protests was actually intercut
with real footage taken from a film called Medium Cool, a
combination documentary/fiction film by famed cinematographer
Haskell Wexler, who shot actual footage of the riots in the park
from the 1968 Democratic National Convention. You can watch The
Trial of the Chicago Seven streaming now on Netflix. Find Phedon
Papamichael: https://www.phedonpapamichael.com/ Instagram: @papa2
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