Licorice Pizza cameraman Michael Bauman, editor Andy Juergensen and production designer Florencia Martin said director Paul Thomas Anderson used 1970s processes to create the MGM / United Artists releasing film. The trio talked about the upcoming picture, about growing up in the San Fernando Valley in the same era, during the Deadline Contenders Film: Los Angeles awards ceremony on Sunday at the DGA Theater.
“Most of the time, if you use more modern glass, you get a sharper image,” Bauman said. “That was the exact opposite of what we’re doing here. We had a set of lenses that Gordon Willis was using from the 1970s. The C series is also a very old series of lenses. It adds this texture to the picture. “
Juergensen said Anderson shot Licorice Pizza on 35mm film, which is already a rarity in Hollywood in 2021; 70mm triggers are blown up by 35. Jürgensen also edited footage instead of using digital software.
“We made negative cuts,” said Juergensen. “Everything is photochemical, not digital.”
Bauman said he showed movie newspapers every day, just as filmmakers did, to review their footage in the 1970s, before video playback became widespread. Not only did they rate the performances of young lead actors Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, but also the visual aesthetics they captured.
“You can have a day where you’re shooting like, ‘Oh my god, I don’t know if this works,'” said Bauman. “The next day you can look at it and say, ‘Oh, that’s great.'”
Martin had to turn Los Angeles back to the 1970s. Each location was recorded with the camera without a green screen. “We were looking for intersections, big streets where we could do full takeovers and designs of 10 storefronts,” said Martin. “It was just one way to demodernize the Valley and bring it back to the 1970s.”
‘Licorice Pizza’ trailer: Paul Thomas Anderson goes back to the valley
One location was available for rebuilding from scratch. Martin said an abandoned restaurant on Van Nuys Golf Course gave her a blank canvas.
“We found a completely derelict restaurant on Van Nuys Golf Course,” said Martin. “We remodeled the entire interior and turned it back into Valley’s classic American pub, Tail o ‘the Cock. We went straight outside to the golf course and turned it into the fireplace you see in the trailer. “
Licorice Pizza, which also features Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper and Benny Safdie, opens in a limited edition on November 26th.
Check back on Tuesday to see the panel video.
Deadline Contenders Film Los Angeles Official sponsor is Aero.
Further sponsors are: Michter’s, Mezcal Los Siete Misterios, Eyepetizer, Final Draft and modMD.
Partners include: Modern Resale, Tidelli and Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea.
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