How Roger Deakins Shot No Country for Old Men

Sir Roger Deakins is often regarded as one of the best cinematographers of all time and his work on No Country for Old Men just goes to prove it. His use of lighting, colour, and movement all add to his signature... look, as he himself says that he doesn't have a style.
In today's video, I'm going to be going over his and the Coen Brothers Pre-Production process, his lighting techniques for the film, as well as the equipment that he used to achieve the striking look.
Timeline
00:00 Introduction
00:52 Pre-Production
02:32 Techniques Roger Deakins Used
05:23 Equipment
06:23 Conclusion
Sources
• 2-Hour Interview with ...
cinephiliabeyond.org/no-count...
www.cinemablend.com/news/2546...
cinegleaner.postach.io/post/n...
www.rogerdeakins.com/
Instagram - / angusdaviesdp
Letterboxd - letterboxd.com/Angus_D/
Website - www.angusdavies.com/
Films Mentioned
No Country for Old Men (2007)
1984 (1984)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Music
Strange Stuff - Matt Harris
The Golden Present - Jesse Gallagher
The Anunnaki Return - Jesse Gallagher
The Spirit of Fire - Jesse Gallagher
Somnolent - The Tides
Blue Dream - Cheel

[@ivanchronicles5898]

This movie made me fall in love with cinematography and I'm seriously considering getting into film school!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Deakins was my inspiration for becoming a DP as well! Hope you get in!

[@susiehenders]

YESS! great to hear that. Good luck with your future :)

[@Akthamfilms]

Don’t waste your money in film school. KZbin has everything you need to learn. And practice what boosts your skills.

[@johnnygospel17]

That's great same here.. but you don't need film school get some lights a camera and start practicing and shooting don't be afraid to try new things and don't be afraid of failure. but there is no such thing in cinematography we try new things and see how they work

[@nickblood7080]

You need to watch the assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert ford if you want to see Roger deakins blow your mind.

[@lilmilontiktok]

You get the greatest directors, the greatest cinematographer and arguably one of the greatest actors ever in one movie and you should expect nothing short of a masterpiece.

[@55yaya5]

As an actor, I scored a job a few years ago working on a western in Alberta. It was December in the mountains so, when shooting exteriors, the actors would be ushered away between takes to keep warm in a heated set. I kept ducking back outside because I wanted to watch the cinematographer who, even then, was god-like to me. In fact, getting paid for the role was just a secondary perk. The movie was The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, and when it finally came out - even after watching parts of it get made - I was astounded. This guy is so understated, so thoughtful and careful. He really feels what a scene should be, and what it can say. So skilled.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Ah nice! That must have been an incredible experience, I’d do anything to watch him work!

[@AllThingsFilm1]

I love Roger Deakins' work. As he has said before, he doesn't want the cinematography to distract from the story. But, you can't help but notice his beautiful work. It's so naturalistic. In large part because in most of his films he uses very simple lighting setups to achieve "the look". In many scenes, he prefers to play to natural lighting working off the practicals of an interior or sunlight for exteriors. In the end, it's about supporting the story. Too often I see young filmmakers coming up with stylized looks for their films, where ultimately their "look" is distracting and not immersive. Studying Roger Deakins lighting techniques should be a part of any class on film lighting and cinematography. Oh yes, and more Roger Deakins, please.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Looking through his book, you see the same sort of techniques. A lot of beautiful lighting and incredible composition, but he’s right in the way that it doesn’t distract you, and I really don’t know how he does it. I’ve seen it a lot, and have been guilty of it, but when you are just starting out you first need to know how to make a image look good, before making it immersive and ultimately telling a story. Pretty much all of his films are on my list!

[@lilmilontiktok]

Exactly! I 100% agree when you said new filmmakers focus on the look of their films which ends up backfiring on them and distracting the audience from the story. I see short films everywhere on tik tok that have good cinematography but serve no purpose whatsoever to the story. Kinda reminds me of the show Euphoria

[@scottmorgason]

The raw essence of this movie is AMAZING. It doesn't get any better. Thanks for sharing.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Couldn't agree more! Glad you liked it!

[@denissoares5348]

This was for a long time, my favourite american movie of all time. Is still one of them. I try to review every single yerar. So well-crafted, the perfomances, writting, the flawless direction, cinematography and editing. A absolute masterpiece. Love it. I adore see essays about, great work.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

It's one of the best of all time! Thanks so much!

[@sanjaysingha8911]

I see Roger deakins in a title i click it.

[@timages]

The opening sequence of this film with those tremendous landscapes and Tommy Lee Jones narrating in that west Texas cowboy's drawl is about as pure cinema as there is. I have the DVD and always play that opening a few times before I watch the rest.

[@haroldherki6845]

I love everything about NCFOM.

[@xenithblured8744]

Wow extremely great breakdown, very in depth!! I love this film so much and watching this breakdown helped me understand more of Roger Deakins lighting techniques

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! So glad it was helpful

[@user-bo4no5eb4m]

So grateful for this content!

[@kip388]

The double-shadow thing is a good example of why I liked Deakins a bit more pre-digital than after. With film there's an element of having to ride the medium and despite the best of technology or deepest of expertise, a bit of guesswork and compromise involved, and he was a master of that balance -- though it probably stressed him out. His work post-Alexa is also fantastic don't get me wrong but very clean and precise, and I miss that bit of chaos.

[@MrJason0505]

Great video Angus. I look forward to seeing all of your videos.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Hope you like them!

[@dominicsagona1186]

Love it thanks! We'd love to see more!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Glad you enjoyed it! I upload every Wednesday, so stay tuned!

[@ML-yw4hv]

Thanks for this video!!! Do more Deakins!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Glad you enjoyed it, More to come!

[@TheDman510]

Amazing breakdown! Keep them going

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Will do!

[@vonjuan5549]

His first line sums it up.

[@vonjuan5549]

Well done, thank you!

[@johnathandelrio]

Great work! I really enjoyed the quotes.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! I really like finding them too, they add so much to the video.

[@NIKONGUY1960]

I thought I'd seen most of the BTS stuff and his work but this is new to me. Great breakdown.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Glad you found it informative!

[@Oceansta]

thank you for making this video

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fiestoderric9443]

super !!!big Up man, very well done analysis!!!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@gabrielcardenasphoto]

amazing video, thank you.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Glad you liked it!

[@medardbitangimana4580]

How did this movie not win best cinematography?

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Deakins’ was nominated twice that year (once for this and one for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), so I image he split the vote. Though There Will Be Blood looked incredible as well.

[@PurposedLensPhotoMedia]

Great breakdown! 👍 This movie has always been interesting to me from the look, the flow and the storyline! One of my favorite lines is when Llewelyn is leaving his wife Carla at home while he goes out to hide the money. Carla doesn't really know what's going on but he tells her in an indirect way that what he is involved in is dangerous! Llewelyn says "If I don't come back you tell mother I love her" Carla then says "your mother is dead!" Llewelyn says "well then I'll tell her myself!". Thanks for doing this one! I would be highly interested in your breakdown of "The Professional" from 1994 with Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman! Keep up the great work! 👍😀

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! That's got to be one of my favourite scenes in the entire film, the dialogue is just so perfect. I don't know how The Professional hasn't come to mind yet, 100% doing that in the near future! Will do!

[@untitled8005]

This is amazing content.

[@kikercreative]

Another great video, film school without going to film school!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Glad you find the content helpful!

[@CommieGobeldygook]

Best cinematography of the 21st century by a mile.

[@kieranarmstrongproductions4743]

Great video! Very informative and complete. I did notice you seem to borrow quite a bit from in depth cine's style, however.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! I actually got this comment on a video around the same time I published that so from around May-June onwards I changed as much as I could as possible. I even stopped watching his videos because I was subconsciously using the same techniques he did.

[@Praxiszooms]

fantastic! I mean a bit more emotions in the voice over as constructiv critisism but all the other parts - suberb! :) Subscribed!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Yup, definitely need to work on my voice, hopefully it's gotten better in recent videos, but it could be so much better. Thanks for the feedback!

[@erlendhansen5635]

On the subject about Deakins.. The first scene in The Man who Wasnt there is sooo classy.

[@tallcorbs]

Lovely breakdown, thanks man!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@tallcorbs]

@@AngusDaviesDP If you ever find the time in your schedule, check out Ryszard Lenczewski's "Ida" - a film that was so magically statically shot, that other cines complained it shouldn't be awarded because it was just a collection of exceptionally composed photos.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

I've been meaning to do Ida for a while, Łukasz Żal's work was simply incredible.

[@tallcorbs]

@@AngusDaviesDP Hooray! Looking super forward to it! Keep up the good work homie!

[@Prototyp3m1nd]

Great vid. Before I suggest anything I'm gonna have to go through your other vids and see what you've covered. I noticed Nightcrawler and Phantom Thread in there so safe to say your taste isn't lacking!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks, Glad you enjoyed it! I do love movies so I eventually watch pretty much anything, but if I really love it then I’ll make a video on it. Did you have any suggestions at all?

[@brandonclark9531]

@@AngusDaviesDP Robert Yeoman - Grand Budapest Hotel. In my opinion one of the most visually appealing movies ever created.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Definitely coming up! One of the most visually stunning films of the past decade.

[@Noname-oq9mk]

Outstanding explanation brother love from India🇮🇳

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks!

[@patoperalta3466]

The GOAT

[@robgunter9618]

Although the story takes place in Texas, the majority of the film was shot in New Mexico, not Texas as stated. Good insight into Deakins' work.

[@allaboutnothing6552]

A true genius !

[@AngusDaviesDP]

He really is!

[@SuperColonel91]

I just loved his work on this movie! This and Jarhead!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Jarhead was incredible! Haven’t seen it in ages though

[@SuperColonel91]

@@AngusDaviesDP get it sometime

[@caleb9819]

Well, you can't say that his work in Blade Runner 2049 serves only as a minor supporting tool for a consistent storytelling.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Oh not at all, but Deakins himself says that he works to support the story. For us however, the cinematography plays a huge part in why we love his films.

[@leodecristoforo3027]

Hi, nice video overall, one remark, at 6:08 that's a poorly placed quote by Roger Deakins, since he would never have said that during the production of "No country for old men", which was shot in 2006. In that quote he is refering to the Arri Alexa camera, which was released in 2010 and marked the shift from film to digital production worldwide, and Roger Deakins also did not shoot digitally until "In Time", which was released in 2011.

[@leodecristoforo3027]

One more question, where did you guys get the (I assume original) floorplan of the shoot? Would be super interesting to see them for the other scenes as well

[@ryanroby5971]

The quote is just there to show his philosophy as a cinematographer. Why did you feel the need to point that out?

[@leodecristoforo3027]

@@ryanroby5971 Well he is refering to the camera market which is changing all the time, so to me it seems very relevant, in which year he made that quote. Digital Cameras used to be much worse 20 years ago than they are now obviously.

[@JoaoSilva22222]

This movie kept me at the edge of the seat. It was watching Fargo on steroids.

[@HeyJettRink]

4:44 what do you mean “he wants to shoot at at least T4”? (I’m new to this field)

[@AngusDaviesDP]

We all have to start somewhere! So, T4 is the equivalent of F4 on a stills lens. Most films are usually shot at around that T-stop because it's preferred to have more in focus than a shallow depth of field (depending on the film), and at T4 a good amount of light is being let in, but it's still sharp enough to keep everything, more or less, in focus.

[@HeyJettRink]

@@AngusDaviesDP Appreciate the reply!

[@Juah00]

First of your videos I've watched. Loved it. Go into more detail and make them longer if you can. Maybe... when you speak about certain tech; give examples of other shots in movies they've been used in before or the purpose or range they have. Detail. Comparisons. Your opinions. Love all that. Keep up the good work.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. I’ve been trying to gradually make them longer, and next weeks video should be around 10 minutes. That’s such a great idea I don’t know how I haven’t thought about it before. Will definitely be doing that in future videos! Will do!

[@Rob_eight10media]

Great assessment thanks ... btw: fresnel .. pronounced 'fre-nnell' ...silent s..

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Glad you liked it! Ah thanks for pointing that out, would have been embarrassing to say that on set...

[@Rob_eight10media]

you're welcome... I've made that mistake myself some years ago.. as I bet many have.. great summary btw.. Deakins my hero.. lol

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Haha. He's mine as well, can't imagine I'd be where I am today without his work.

[@richardadesmond]

Did you know they had to stop shooting one day because smoke from the oil derrick on There Will be Blood had made its way onto the set. Hahaha. Funny because, during pre production the crew for NCFOM booked up the only Motel in Marfa and PTA and his crew were out of luck, then that happens. Great video, thank you for breaking down the shooting of No Country.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

I didn't, but what a great story! I always forget that they were shooting TWBB at the same time. Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@richardadesmond]

@@AngusDaviesDP I learned it from a great channel - Cinema Tyler. He does in depth breakdowns of classic films like 2001; a space odyssey, Apocalypse Now and of course TWWB. Check him out. Thanks again.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

I recognise that name! I'll definitely be checking out his videos in the future!

[@richardadesmond]

@@AngusDaviesDP Careful, you'll probably go down a rabbit hole and be up to all hours of the night watching them. Lol.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

That's happened a few too many times before...

[@slobonmyfilmsnob]

wait, let me guess.... with a camera!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

I've heard that helps a lot with the process

[@gianthills]

It should have been called No Country for Boring Old Men, because that's what it becomes by the third act.

[@OFWelsh]

With a camera? And LIGHTS!?!?!?

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Shocking, right? Before researching for the video, I thought they just used his eyes instead of cameras. But apparently that technology hasn’t been invented yet…

[@aaronhuskins9189]

Spent 8 days setting up lights for one scene. Quentin Tarantino was just so wrong about this man.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

One of the only things I can't agree with Tarantino on.

[@ericjamesphotography]

I appreciate the great commentary. You don’t need to refer to him as Sir. every time. Sounds a bit pretentious. But great overall piece, many thanks!

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! Agree 100%, I don't know why I thought it was a good idea in this video, but I stopped doing it in videos after watching this one back. Glad you liked it though!

[@RickAGauna]

What a great vid but why does everyone have to insert an annoying soundtrack. Must be me but find it too distracting.

[@AngusDaviesDP]

Thanks! I mainly add the music to cover up for the shoddy microphone, but it also just makes it a bit nicer to watch for most people, it feels more complete. I completely understand where your coming from though, I can see that it might be distracting in some cases.

[@douglasfairmeadow]

FYI - it's 'muslin' - pronounced like muscle! Not like the religion (though the word looks a lot like it).

[@nikynikita2044]

That movie is a pure example of the overrated American BS. The plot is absolute nonsense.