‘Once Upon A Time’ Cinematographer Talks

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Robert Richardson, Quentin Tarantino’s cinematographer on Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood, has one of the spectacular resumes of any filmmaker working at this time. First of all, he’s gained three Oscars for his work on JFK, The Aviator, and Hugo. And he has labored, a number of instances, with filmmakers like Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino.

So, with so many accolades and time sufficient to ask one further query not associated to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, the place does one even start? Well, we went with Breakin’, after all. But earlier than we get to Breakin’, we requested Richardson to take us via a couple of memorable scenes in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood to clarify to us mere mortals how a few of these unimaginable photographs have been achieved.

Let’s begin with Brad Pitt driving the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia down an especially curvy street.

Well, initially, that was Brad driving. He is also the one who pulled out, while you get that nice music cue that pops in there. He simply left Leo behind and switches to the opposite automotive, to the Karmann Ghia. He pulls out after which it simply hits us, that lovely music. But then the digital camera’s mounted behind him. The fact of the matter is, Brad is a stunt individual. Let’s get actual. Down Hollywood Boulevard, I’m not gonna say this for certain, however I’m betting he’s within the 50 mile an hour zone.

He appears prefer it’s going fairly quick.

It’s flying down that street. We have been combating a digital camera automotive to maintain up with him. That’s how briskly he’s driving, however he’s absolutely in management. It wasn’t something that was even vaguely a query mark. I imply, when Roman and Sharon drive to the Playboy Mansion, they’re additionally driving that street very quickly. I feel Brad is — properly he’s clearly a stunt man within the film. He wasn’t going to let any individual else drive it. Although, we had any individual to drive it if he wished to have that approach. But he was so in command of the automotive that it was not an issue.

Then there’s this superb shot of 55-year-old Brad Pitt sauntering up on a rooftop to repair a TV antenna. I think there’s nothing particular about it out of your aspect, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly a shot.

Nothing particular, however I feel you’re completely proper. Quentin and I have been sort of joking about it later, saying it’s in regards to the closest Quentin’s ever come to doing something homoerotic. Brad simply, you already know, the way in which he pops up on high and walks to the antenna, the rhythm, he simply appears so good. I used to be with this buddy of mine, I don’t know, she’s 28 and she or he goes, “Oh my god, is he hot!”

She’s by no means seen Fight Club then, huh?

You know, really, it’s an excellent query! I didn’t ask her. Look, everyone knows Brad’s sizzling. There’s no query about it. But that picture is iconic now I feel. Let’s discuss Austin Butler for a second, who performs Tex. That horse journey…

Thank you for bringing it up, that was subsequent on my listing.

Austin didn’t have an excessive amount of expertise using previous to this movie. And he obtained employed and he did a whole lot of coaching — he’s a very critical actor. I feel he’s additionally a reputation to look at sooner or later, with out query. And what he did was, he was taught by wranglers to journey with one hand, which makes it much more particular. I did a rehearsal with Quentin and I had already executed a run earlier than he’d gotten there to make it possible for the digital camera automotive may do it, and we did it with the horse wranglers. And we did it in additional sluggish movement and we did it sooner. Then when Quentin obtained there, we confirmed him what he’d wished to see and we did it at a very excessive pace with a very good rider. Then he goes, “It’s fabulous, but can Austin do this?” And we simply mentioned, “Yeah, Austin can do this.” I feel we solely did two takes of it as a result of he nailed it completely. Flying down there and dropping over that hill and racing down at full gallop is outstanding. So yeah, no stunt individuals for that one.

He regarded nice. I feel most actors look sort of silly using a horse….