“Han Solo” Cinematographer Says He Is Pleasantly Surprised and Encouraged by the Project
The role of the cinematographer (aka Director of Photography or DP) is very important in the movie-making process. The DP selects the camera, lens, filters, and most importantly lights the scene in the proper way that makes it look the best. A month ago Bradford Young was announced as the DP for the “Han Solo: A Star Wars” movie, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. While promoting his upcoming sci-fi drama “Arrival“, Young also spoke about “Han Solo” and what we can expect from the second Star Wars stand-alone movie…
Known mostly for his drama projects like “Selma” and “A Most Violent Year“, the award-winning American cinematographer Bradford Young was a surprising choice as DP for the Han Solo movie, knowing the comedic past of directors Lord and Miller. Young himself admitted that he was a bit surprised by the proposition he got. But, don’t get the directors’ track record fool you…
From Collider:
“It’s funny, here’s the thing about Phil Lord and Chris Miller: don’t let their track record fool you. Don’t put those guys in a box because they have a vision, they know exactly what they want. They have no hidden agenda, but they do have an agenda; they have a way of seeing that’s very special, and their collaboration is genuinely unique. So I have to say I had to get converted into that. I respect their work, I respect them as filmmakers, but I wasn’t quite sure if there would be a good marriage between what I’m trying to pursue and the work that I’m doing and what they’re doing, but they helped make that real clear to me early on by expressing some real interesting story [and] photographic ideas that really resonated with me. So once they started really pulling me into that world, I realized how much these cats have come from the same pedagogy of filmmaking—in the visual sense for sure, and definitely from an approach in terms of how we want to make movies, they come from the same school.”
Young also shared what we can expect from the unexpected duo Lord and Miller:
“These cats are subversive, don’t let it fool you (laughs). They are prepared to say exactly what they wanna say and it’s complex, it’s layered, it’s smart, it’s visual, it’s dramatic, it’s funny, it’s uneasy, it’s unexpected. These cats are—I’m honored to have them in the list of directors I’ve worked with, that’s for sure.”
Most importantly, Young revealed that they have been given a full freedom by Lucasfilm to do with their movie what they do best, and he was very encouraged and pleasantly surprised by what’s to come from this production:
“We’re doing our own thing, that’s why we’re there. Phil and Chris are there to bring what they bring to their films, their very unique vision, their perspective on story and they asked me to come bring what I bring, and so just for that it won’t feel like any of the other films. And nobody at Lucasfilm is asking us to betray that, they’re saying ‘We’re in full support of what you do and we wanna make sure that we’re able to help you do it in the best way.’ It’s gonna feel like a Star Wars film, but we’re definitely gonna break some rules, and we’re encouraged to do that. Visually, narratively that’s a good mandate. They really are about, from what I’ve seen so far, supporting up and coming artists, who have a strong vision and voice and perspective, and they really wanna permeate the films with those kinds of voices. So it’s interesting, very interesting. Not what I thought it would be, that’s for sure. I’m pleasantly encouraged and pleasantly surprised.”
In case you’re still not convinced that the Han Solo movie will (probably) be fine, you can check our editorial here.
The “Han Solo” film will start filming in late January or early February in 2017, and will hit theaters on May 25, 2018.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
I’d be more surprised if he talked shit about the project (and still got to keep his job and do it, like most of humanity does)
I think he’s candid in that he had lower expectations going in but left impressed.
I sincerely hope that extends to all us as viewers too (Having low expectations and be pleasantly surprised later on)
That’s exactly what is going to happen too. I don’t see how people can’t see that.
This guy sounds like a cool cat 😉
Really loved his work on Selma. The Han Solo film will undoubtedly look beautiful.
quite the team they’ve assembled behind the camera for this one.
“complex, smart, dramatic, funny, uneasy, unexpected…”
“we’re definitely gonna break some rules”
“And nobody at Lucasfilm is asking us to betray that”
Well, I think this will be an atypical SW movie. For one side is cool, because is the personal vision of the new directors and cinematographer. It’s risky and that’s ok. On the other side, we have to see if it fits in this universe.
I supouse Lucasfilm is trying to do something new.
Now I’m confused lol
They will not bring the Lego style in this movie, right?
encouraging
Well, intriguing for sure. I’m excited about the spinoffs though I must admit, at first I wasn’t even feeling this project at AAAALLLLLL. The spinoffs have more of a productive freedom; that has excited me more and more as Rogue One has unfolded along with the news we have received on the Solo film.
I agree although I still feel a little bit protective of the franchise I grew up with and skeptical about all these new directions! I like these comments and if they’re accurate it resonates with my theory that great art comes for giving the cash/support to artists with vision and perseverance then sitting back and hoping for the best. It won’t always work but we know the difficulties filmakers can experience with heavy studio constraint and oversight. It all sounds very…dare I say…George Lucasfilm?
guess we’ll see a “new” looking Millennium Falcon
I hope not. I want the Falcon to continue looking trashy, even if they have to change something about it to differentiate it from the Falcon in the other movies (to sell more toys, of course).
This movie is shaping up OK but I still wish they took their 200 million dollars and put it into a more interesting idea for a film. I would have loved to see Snyder’s Seven Samurai Star Wars film.
Zach Snyder? No, thanks.
I am in the minority of people that actually enjoy his films especially Man of Steel and Watchmen. Would love to see Star Wars through his visual style. https://media.giphy.com/media/RY4OqCTrluVP2/giphy.gif
I also enjoyed Man of Steel and Watchmen. Even Sucker Punch!
But Batman v Superman was atrocious and while visually he is terrific, story-wise, he is not.
I was not excited that much for Han Solo movie, especially because I can’t imagine anyone but Harrison Ford playing Han. Saying that, when I see photoshoped pictures of actors that will play Younger Lando and Han, they look like younger version of them. I think it will take place around 5-10 years after Revenge of the Sith (of course,not saying it will have anything with that, just that it will take place 5 years after those events). And I don’t expect mind-blowing movie,or best STAR WARS movie, but I believe it could be hell out of fun movie. We will probably see how Han and Chewie met each other, and Han their first smuggler days, we will probably see something about The Hutts, and Boba Fett, and probably how Han got Millenium Falcon from Lando, how he won that ship. This will be hopefully really fun Space Cowboy/Smuggler/Pirate movie. And if movie is good and successful enough, we might get some other Han/Chewie adventures in sequel, even I don’t expect that.
Kasdan said about 10 years before ANH. He wrote the script.
I’ve had a wait-and-see attitude with this film — puzzled by the naysayers, but not particularly excited, either. What Bradford Young said is not only getting me interested and excited, but putting the whole thing into a new light. I think we can throw those boring checklists of events that “must” be shown out the window and enjoy the ride that Lord and Miller are going to give us.
Say what you will. I predict this will be the most satisfying Star Wars movie pf all time.
I would love to look back on this post in several years time and say “bravo!” – that would be awesome! I’m not overly optimistic, but as a fan I hope they make it amazing.
any chance this film actually does come out in may of 2018? thats only five months after VIII comes out and they seem pretty keen on december now.
Lets see how R1 turns out first.
I was convinced that Roger Deakins would be the cinematographer of Arrival
I like that every film will be different and each have their own chance of being great. The success or failure (cinematically, not financially) of each film will not dictate the success or failure of any future films. In fact, they may have a greater chance of success.
Don’t let these cats fool you.