20 Questions Film » Sean McDaniel

WATCH: How To Choose The Right Lighting

Mads Black — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 02:01:57 +0000

Lighting a scene is about so much more than just making sure you can see the actors. Lighting can set the mood of a scene or help drive the story from A to B. It can make you painfully aware that you’re watching a film or it can help you suspend your disbelief and let yourself disappear in the action.

It’s a subtle art and it’s something even the most skillful DPs can – and should – continue to explore throughout their careers. Here Sean McDaniel talks about what it means to him to ‘choose the right lighting’ and how you, as a DP, need to be aware of the effect your lighting choices has on the viewers experience.

We previously posted videos in which Sean shares a little bit of his wisdom. More videos in the series will be posted shortly, so keep checking back – or even better, simply sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Sean McDaniel has been working as a cinematographer for over a decade on narrative, documentary and experimental films. He furthered his studies as a cinematographer while acquiring his MFA in Film Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and his work has screened in numerous film festivals around the world including the Cannes Short Film Corner, Palm Springs Film Festival, LA Shorts Film Festival, HollyShorts, and the Vancouver International Film Festival, among others. He was a USC selection for the 2014 A.S.C. Heritage Award, which looks great on paper, sure, but more importantly speaks to his passion for telling powerful stories through his work behind the camera in support of his collaboration with talented directors.

You can watch Sean McDaniel’s reel here.

WATCH: Why Is Pre-Production Essential For Cinematographers?

Mads Black — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 22:41:42 +0000

Pre-Production is not just the time for casting and storyboarding. It’s also the time for director and cinematographer to make sure they see the script with a singular vision, make sure the secured locations can accommodate said vision, and – time permitting – maybe even block out talent and camera movements. All this in an effort to save time once you’re actually on set with clocks ticking and bank accounts shrinking.

Sean McDaniel explains how the more moving wheels you have in play on set, the easier it is to waste time – which in the end can be the difference between the take you’ll settle with and the take you really wanted. So come prepared. It’s worth it.

More videos in the series of interviews with Sean McDaniel will be posted shortly, so keep checking back – or even better, simply sign up for our weekly newsletter.

WATCH: What Is The Job Of A Cinematographer?

Mads Black — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 01:31:30 +0000

Should be a simple question to answer, right? You tell the team where you want the lights, you point the camera in the right direction and you make sure to not lose sight of the action in your viewfinder. Easy.

Yeah, not quite that simple, we know, but even if you add to the above a bunch of technical terms and talks of aesthetics, you may still not have the full picture (pun intended). Cinematographer Sean McDaniel has some insight that might surprise you. Interesting stuff for any filmmaker – not just the ones behind the camera.

We previously posted a video in which Sean tells us a bit about how he became a cinematographer. More videos in the series will be posted shortly, so keep checking back – or even better, simply sign up for our weekly newsletter.

You can watch Sean McDaniel’s reel here.

WATCH: The Path To Becoming A Cinematographer

Mads Black — Fri, 15 May 2015 05:11:45 +0000

Here’s one for anyone who’s ever had the urge to pick up a camera and paint moving pictures with their eyes.

For me – being an actor, not a cinematographer – there’s always been something romantic, something magical, about the work of a truly talented DP. So when we got a chance to talk to one them (a truly talented DP, that is), we were excited to first of all know how one ends up calling oneself a cinematographer.

We got a whole basket of proverbial golden nuggets from Sean and will be passing them onto you over the coming weeks. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for instant notifications when new interviews are posted – and be sure to add yourself to our mailing list, too.

You can watch his reel here.