Creating a Power-ful Graphic
All in all, Richter-Friis found Powers to be an engaging assignment. “It was great to work on a project that starts out interestingly and then develops into something beyond what we had imagined,” he says. “It was a great experience working with all the directors, but especially Mikael, because I’ve known him so long. I actually used him as a reference to get the job!” Reflecting on the many changes in filmmaking technology since Backdraft in 1991, Salomon adds, “If you don’t embrace new technology, you’re going to fall hopelessly behind. And I have to say that some of the new technology I love. I think it’s amazing. But I also think DPs these days have it so much easier, because they can achieve effects that we, before, would spend hours doing, using huge and expensive equipment. All the things we used to do in terms of matching — now you can just roll back and take a look. Now, you can shoot night exterior basically without any light. You can get all the headlights to burn through. You can get all the natural light. So these improvements made possible by modern camera sure do make things easier. And there are some shows, small movies that would never have been made without the newer, more user-friendly, efficient and cheaper equipment. Certainly, some of the magic and mystery has gone out of it, but whether that’s bad or good, I don’t know. But I welcome the new technologies.”
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