Synopsis
In this new digital world, the use of film stock is swiftly vanishing, triggering the extinction of the classic cinematographer and leaving behind an art form that has been mastered by few but cherished by millions. The number of remaining cinematographers to have lived through film’s golden era shrinks every day. Keepers of the Magic captures the stories and inspirations of these filmic masters, while celebrating their contribution to this cherished artform.
Keepers of the Magic celebrates the movie moments that have moved us all. It’s atmospheric and lyrical, thought provoking and emotionally stirring, connecting the stories of our legendary cinematographers with the visuals that defined them. Vic Sarin creates a sumptuous visual feast, grand in scope yet intimate in experience, that weaves personal stories through iconic cinematic footage that is sometimes haunting, sometimes disturbing, sometimes visceral, but always breathtaking.
Keepers of the Magic follows cinematographers around the world, uncovering untold stories and the passion that inspired these innovators. How was Gordon Willis able to persuade Francis Ford Coppola to employ with the heavily top-lighting that created the now-iconic dark shadows under Marlon Brando’s eyes? How did cinematographer Vittorio Storaro survive Apocalypse Now with no instant rushes, stuck in the remote jungles of the Philippines? Nothing was immediate, yet there was an intuition, a confidence borne out of their relationship with the lens. There was vision, trust and a shorthand that existed between director and cinematographer – perhaps cinema’s most important collaboration.
Today, a new generation of filmmakers is being introduced to an industry where a film magazine may never be loaded into a camera. Our masters will talk about the unique quality of film stock and what role the look and feel of celluloid played in their movies. Will this digital generation lose the opportunity to experience the magic of working with film? Are young filmmakers happy to exist only in the digital realm or do they long to work with celluloid and make movies like the ones that inspired them? Should we try to keep film alive, or shelve it and race ahead with new digital tools? Can these two mediums co-exist? And if so, what can be done to ensure that film is kept alive to inspire future generations? And how do the Masters fit into the picture? Can they still make magic in a digital world?