Challenge

For The Creator (2023), Gareth Edwards sought to return to the style of guerilla filmmaking he used on Monsters (2010). With a relatively modest $80 million budget, co-cinematographers Greig Fraser and Oren Soffer had to rethink the traditional cinematography toolkit of a mid-budget sci-fi action movie. There wouldn’t be time to stop and rework a plan if delays caused an intended daylight scene to become a night shoot, for example.

The lighting and camera package would have to be small and versatile, able to fit into a van instead of multiple trucks, and usable without large generators. Without a massive lighting package, the camera would need to be light sensitive without sacrificing visual fidelity.

Solution

Fraser and Soffer built a toolkit around the tiny, full frame Sony FX3 cinema camera and a core set of Aputure Light Storms, Novas, MC Pros, and other LEDs that they could expand on when needed. The FX3 could easily capture practical light in locations and the core light kit kept the team nimble and able to deal with a wide range of challenges.

The Aputure Light Storm 1200d became the shoot’s go-to light, and its high output saved shoot days in surprising ways. When cloud coverage ruined a plan to shoot with moonlight, the team used three Light Storm 1200ds to light a huge field, something that would typically require massive HMIs, tow-in generators, and hours of setup.

For interiors, Fraser, Soffer, and Gaffer Pithai Smithsuth pushed Nova P600cs through exterior windows and placed quick "gaffer slashes" with Light Storm 600x Pros and Spotlight Mounts to enliven the backgrounds. Gobos were aimed like turrets to experiment until an interesting slash was found.

Lastly, Aputure MC Pros were placed around the set whenever the frame needed a splash of light, or integrated into the set design itself in collaboration with the art department.

Results

The final film’s gorgeous visuals speak to the effectiveness of Fraser and Soffer’s plan, and the co-cinematographers were nominated for Best Cinematography at the 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards and longlisted in the Best Cinematography category at the 77th British Academy Film Awards.

The scrappy, guerilla-style production has also inspired the next generation of filmmakers, who see an opportunity to make striking visuals at far more accessible cost, size, and power requirements.