Gladiator II cinematographer and longtime Ridley Scott collaborator John Mathieson had some sturdy phrases for the legendary director, saying that he’s modified for the more severe in how he makes films.
What did the Gladiator II cinematographer say?
Throughout a latest look on the DocFix podcast (by way of World of Reel), Mathieson — who has labored with Scott as a cinematographer on Gladiator, Hannibal, Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood, and the newest Gladiator II — stated that the way in which Scott makes films now could be “actually lazy.”
“It’s actually lazy,” Mathieson stated. “It’s the CG [computer graphic] parts now of tidying-up, leaving issues in shot, cameras in shot, microphones in shot, bits of set hanging down, shadows from booms. And so they simply stated [on Gladiator II], ‘Properly, clear it up.’
Mathieson went on to say that Scott’s impatience usually leads to him attempting to “get as a lot as he can without delay,” and that the usage of so many cameras without delay doesn’t essentially imply you’re getting a greater product.
“He’s fairly impatient so he likes to get as a lot as he can without delay,” stated Mathieson. “It’s not superb for cinematography…Take a look at his older movies and getting depth into issues was very a lot a part of lighting. You possibly can’t do this with plenty of cameras however he simply desires to get all of it finished.
“Having plenty of cameras I don’t suppose has made the movies any higher…It’s a bit rush, rush, rush. That’s modified in him. However that’s the way in which he desires to do it and I don’t prefer it and I don’t suppose many individuals do, however individuals love his movies and he’s Ridley Scott and might do what he desires.”
It’s unclear whether or not or not Mathieson and Scott can be working collectively sooner or later, however it appears clear that they conflict when it comes to how they like to make films now. As for Scott, he’s bought a number of films in growth now, together with one other mission with Gladiator II star Paul Mescal.
