'Poor Things' Cinematographer Robbie Ryan Breaks Down Yorgos Lanthimos' Hilarious Ball Room Scene

[@simplyrowen]

I LOVE this tech talk. When I went to Art School, we were told that you never use a wide angle lens for people, and I love how Yorgos uses them regularly for closeups, not only for big landscapes/rooms. Also how he chooses to shoot his actors from below, rather than at eye level. Both choices add to the overall kookiness and uneasiness of the movie as a whole. We, the audience, shouldn’t feel comfortable watching any of this, and these artistic choices help with making us feel uncomfortable.

[@Finn10000]

Really influenced by lubezski you would think?

[@simplyrowen]

@@Finn10000 I wouldn’t say so. Lubezki is only 59 years old, and those angles have been used in older black and white movies, and throughout cinematic history. Even the fish eye lens effect isn’t new, but I personally haven’t seen it used to this level, as to become a signature for a filmmaker, and how regularly it presents itself seemingly out of nowhere and “for no reason at all” if you will. I can’t wait to see Poor Things and to experience the evolution of their style (Yorgos’ and Ryan’s).

[@ryanamendt8363]

Watch the movies of Terry Gilliam. Lots of short lenses in those.

[@oquendojo]

everything you were told in art school must be challenged, theory is just a small part but practice is what makes the real artwork. watch all the previous lanthimos movies, from before being famous, and you'll more beautiful films. Also things like Dogma 95 are interesting movies, be disruptive.

[@simplyrowen]

@@ryanamendt8363 Thank you! I will.

[@alenemarie1726]

He needs to win for best cinematography. This film was a visual feast for the eyes

[@Toonksbell43]

YESS GIVE ME THE TECHNICAL FILM TALK!!!! This movie was insane and amazing and the best I saw last year. Robbie Ryan did an amazing job and he is now one of my favorite cinematographers.

[@ufufu001]

working on set of this movie must've been one hell of an experience

[@gutterbaby8382]

Hoyte van Hoytema did great work on Oppenheimer, but I hope Robbie can win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Poor Things is immaculate.

[@diegoperleche5177]

And not forget Rodrigo Prieto, (not for Barbie lol) but yes with Killers of the flower moon...

[@vegacast]

Second this

[@r.c.c.10]

For me the ranking of cinematography is: 1. Maestro 2. KOTFM 3. Poor Things 4. The Killer 5. Napoleon 6. El Conde

[@ogeidias]

Hoyte van Hoytema, are you kidding me? He already won with that name, lol!

[@bloandon]

Its such a competitive year for so many categories

[@Elassyahmed]

This guy truly wrote a new chapter on cinematography

[@aleetee2003]

Robbie Ryan is so down to earth compared to other cinematographers. He seems like he has a lot of fun doing what he does.

[@gabrielalopetegui]

I just came from watching Poor Things. And came directly to google the cinematographer👏👏👏 Amazing movie. Emma Stone brilliant, Cinemathography brilliant, all cast as well! Music so strange and so appropiate for this film. I wish you lots of Awards ! Bravo 👏 👏👏

[@noseholekibi]

cinematography of this movie is AMAZING

[@annieb408]

i was blown away by how beautiful this movie is!

[@mihaliskritharis4]

Since after a week i.ve been saw it and i can't stop thinking of it. It burned my brain

[@TyLouis-l8f]

Best scene of the film, masterful cinematography throughout the movie.

[@kurt4152]

I just saw poor things and the cinematography blew me away! It's the best cinematography of the year, it should win an Oscar.

[@veragrig8645]

Happy to see cinematographers getting some recognition lately.

[@howiespancakeshack]

Beautiful year for cinematography 🩷

[@oxford17]

Saw it yesterday. I LOVED EVERY EVERY CRAZY EFFIN SECOND!

[@SashaSylvanaut]

Absolutely the best looking film I've seen in years!!!

[@Poole_tattoos]

More Irish talent on display, love to see it ! Let’s go lads !!

[@FramesPerSecond]

Easily my favourite cinematography of 2023. I love shooting still on Ektachrome so it’s nice to see people using it for motion picture more now.

[@michaelhockus8208]

wow that was a spectacular segment, thanks for the video

[@redrecordz111]

this is so fun thank you!

[@littlebat66666]

I love the use of the different cameras and also a lot of the architecture and scenery, it just gives such a modern German-expressionism-feeling for the movie and I think that vibe just fits perfectly to the story of the movie

[@mauriciohalo2081]

His cinematography, was phenomenal, and that crazy movie 👏 👏 so glad they had it in a cinema Dolby Atmos screen in AMC in Manhattan!! Soundtrack was great to!! it’s such a dark comedy with big heart 💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤🎬🎞️🎥

[@Eeveeechan]

The Cinematography of this movie was beautiful, the locations looked dreamy. Really gorgeous 💜

[@chhunyi6040]

I been searching for this ! wow thank you for sharing ! love u guys

[@fincayabisi]

This movie should get ALL the awards! 🙌🏾

[@DonovanPresents]

I loved the hand cam part of that scene!

Haven't watched it yet but seems like finally some creativity is back in the movie industry

[@WanderbirdLife]

Great insight and wonderful hearing it from the cinematographer himself. A true masterpiece this film.

[@DrStephenTee]

I love how you left the vignettes in; I used to do the same on my photography lenses! It works brilliantly!💙

[@ReadingswithDebbie]

Going to see it again now!

[@chloetry206]

anyone filming on ektachrome is my hero. That film stock is so gorgeous but dark so if your indoors you are dumping light on your actors.

[@chimdi]

I loved this film! I was wondering about the black and white film and the use of the fisheye lens. It's so great getting to hear their process!

[@storkonstage]

A cinematographic masterpiece! 🎥👌

[@maysapost1999]

A lecture in a few minutes. Masterpiece.

[@TalkingBurit0]

Whoever did this pairing deserves a rai- oh wait wrong video damn

[@grapes9h5]

They hearted this hahahaha

[@alwaysknow3356]

Saw it last night, spectacular! And love that this guy is Irish and it's an Irish produced film! Hopefully it will win lots of awards as it deserves them.

[@snimacz]

Absolutely fantastic image

[@Seeattle]

The Kodak ektachrome is so punchy and cool

[@oztenn]

he is brilliant

[@rsh4n]

hearing him talk about the ektachrome and the 4mm lens made me feel giddy. i love this movie

[@Amanda.656]

I went to the cinema without knowing nothing, like literally nothing ... I just knew Emma stone was praised for her performance. So I went to the movies, yesterday in the middle of the afternoon all by myself and had so much fun... It's been a while that I enjoyed a movie so much, it was a feast to the eyes, and a feast to my ears... I kinda wished I went to a better cinema, because that one wasn't doing justice to the movie... But no matter what was an enjoyable experience.

[@tanyaedmunds3493]

Movies have sooooooo many moving parts. It's amazing

[@TIMG128]

Brilliant film. God I loved it!!!!!!!!

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

I need to see this film again.

[@harrr53]

I was hoping he'd say what lens was used to produce the swirly bokeh typical of Petzval's portrait objective lens. But alas, no specific mention. I think the cinematography of Poor Things was truly masterful.

[@leegray72]

This film was so good. That Tech talk is incredibly interesting as well.

[@Amenphoto]

I LOVE that you still refer to film speed as ASA!

[@artmeatj6620]

You guys were brilliant

[@bjornkeizers]

Absolutely beautifully shot movie. Gotta love the enthousiasm and effort to get exactly what they envisioned. As a photographer, I can definitely relate to the 'get the 4 mil' attitude :D Sometimes, you just gotta give things that extra bit of oomph.

[@troygaspard6732]

Amazing work Robbie.

[@MightyTheWolf]

It was truly an amazing movie! I watched it in cinema this friday and it was one hell of a ride!

[@tamartamunanemsadze7750]

Beautiful film ❤

[@tirshtain]

This film is shot exactly how I would want Fallen Angens to be shot. Wide but stable enough to not get tired.

[@ItsYaBoi34]

I called that effect the center focus shots when I was watching, but I guess it’s fish-eye. I couldn’t wait to look up why that shot was used, such an interesting choice. I tried to find a common theme between those shots but for the life of me I couldn’t. Had a couple ideas but they were put to bed lol

[@Some__Rando]

I'd just like to point out, Variety, that he says they shot everything in 1.66 aspect ratio. Which means that, in a cinematography breakdown, you cropped every shot to 1.78. It seems disrespectful to the interviewee to crop his shots when it would have taken LESS EFFORT to leave them alone.

[@vladimirimp]

Great video! So much insight! I loved the movie and I agree completely about the dance scene - I was delighted to enjoy the film with no idea what was in it or how things happened, and so the dance was an utter surprise and joy. One insight I’d have liked was to understand better the reason for changing the film type from B&W to colour to vivid etc. The impression I have from this interview is that the director made those calls on the fly rather than there being a master plan like ‘when she’s being controlled it’s greyscale’ or ‘when she’s being challenged it’s vivid’. And it would be a fine answer to say it’s left to the audience to decide, but I’d have liked to hear that from him.

[@wf1g]

Thank you Robbie.

[@fairuzmaileen5691]

Fun, beautifully filmed movie🖤🖤🖤

[@xavieryt412]

Gosh this was SOOOO interesting.

[@nanibrisque]

Incrível é ter a noção de que o analógico faz falta, e volta a ser usado depois da era digital. Já vimos muito disso em efeitos especiais onde os objetos voltaram as mãos de artesãos em atelier.

[@cariiinen]

Fascinating

[@artisans8521]

Loved the cinematography. It is as an extra character in the movie. I saw it on Disney+. And being Dutch, I think you should have won the Oscar. Brilliant work. Ektachrome 100, realy? Shot that in my Nikons in the 90th. But I liked Kodachrome 25 a lot more.

[@blackstreek]

Wouldn't putting the 4mm vignette in post make more sense? Doing the vignette practically seems like an unneccessary risk to take. But I can't argue with the results, the film looks magnificent. Ryan should receive the Oscar he should've gotten for C'MON C'MON.

[@mad-meh2719]

True but were is the fun in that.

[@sternschnupper]

well, doing it while filming allows to correctly compose with the vignette - which has to align with the distortions, so it can't be placed anywhere else anyways. and of course those magnificient distortions are only achievable by such an extreme lens anyways!

[@11MV]

Just watched it today and hope it wins at least cinematography costumes and production design

[@angie12326able]

He is a genius

[@Pastfoward.Cinema]

i wanna go to lisbon

[@katiedavis512]

Can anyone tell me what was the lens with the beautiful fall out on the outer edges?? Was it the Zeiss? It’s such a gorgeous look, really incredible

[@nadr1983]

Ur abilities are amazing! Just want to hug You, totally amazing. U are so worthy!

[@sternschnupper]

he does leave us in the shadow about what lenses created those wonderful weird bokeh though - my guesses are helios 40-2, or biotar 50/1.4

Rehoused Petzval lenses - 58mm T2.1 and 85mm T2.3

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

I never thought I could love a man more than Roger Deakin. I might cheat on Roger with Robbie. I loved Poor Things and his work was a big part of the reason why.

[@Vanessacxoxo333]

Amazing

[@KittyGuerrillaFilms]

so good

[@madlove4you]

love

[@gabrielc6252]

5:20 correction: he starts hugging him 😅

[@brauliomorrison]

A+

[@ashby7m]

so cool!

[@dion1949]

A lot of the dance scene that was filmed did not end up in the movie, edited out. I would like to see these outtakes.

[@jamescaldwell5]

Not sure if Mr Ryan will ever read these comments, I love the cinematography of this film And I want to know more about the lenses used that create the swirling bokeh, there is also a scene where they are walking under the trees deciding to get married with an upward facing camera angle capturing dazzling bokeh as the light shines through the leaves.

[@filmjkk]

I think they used a Petzval lens for those close ups

[@arseniyshapurov]

I have really rare, one of a kind lens with that effect. Meopta Stigmar 110 1.5

[@kino_verite]

im also kinda curious as to what kind of 8x10 camera lanthimos is using in those behind the scenes photos of him with it, and what those photos look like lol

[@teddygallagher9706]

Yhup the Dubs

[@noahsabadish3812]

i absolutely adored this dance scene. i found it uplifting and moving, not hilarious.

[@vicarludens]

The choreography of the dance was so good as well. Really portrayed her development and new found facsination to express in singing and dancing. But it also showed how equal (or even independant) she is to Duncan on the dance floor as she is not limited by the rules of higher society. Still listen to the song when I start my way to work lol.

[@28Pluto]

Thank god there were arrows and circles pointing out where the lights were!! I'd be so confused and lost without them, because I have no idea what a light source looks like. ffs.

[@bluebellbeatnik4945]

not everyone thinks like that, though.

[@cmoran9103]

Really? Light sources are things like candles, lamps, ceiling lights, and the sun. There are many others too. These are important in filmmaking, like in this film "Poor Things".

[@tylero8595]

Kodak needs to bring back Kodachrome.

[@metricarea7546]

Jenna Ortega did the dance and then Emma Stone went and PERFECTED THE DANCE. I did not expect to like the movie as much as I did 😲

[@angelwitprblmz]

this scene is addictive, everytime I see it advertised on tiktok I always stop and watch.

[@BEE-mp9vk]

Would love to know which scenes were shot on the Vistavision cameras.

[@MAXIMUS-yk5vs]

Hey Queen. Girl, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all, and doing it flawlessly. I'd say I'm surprised, but I know who you are. I've seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud. And I love you.

[@theNTmob]

Very wise

[@sclogse1]

You can feel the ghost of Stanley Kubrick walking the halls...

[@deloreanized]

I miss Terry Gilliam's films.

[@bondfall0072]

He's still alive though?

[@Stewz66]

the swirly bokeh lens used at the end of the film when Bella and her fiancee are walking in a forest landscape... I watched this to see if it would be discussed. So curious what lens was used there...

[@harrr53]

Same here. The effect is characteristic of a vintage 19th-century design, the Petzval portrait objective lens. Lensbaby makes an optic called the Twist 60 which is based on that design, and produces that same effect. But I assume they didn't use some SLR lens for those scenes, but a proper cine lens equivalent of that design.

[@andres8049]

A simpleton comment but in another video Emma jokes about 5 mm lens and wink at the camera so she got the lessons kinda right.

[@ChrisTheCuriousDad]

A talented man. And a nice man. Not packing the massive ego normally associated with the profession either.

[@andrewdotjames]

The cinematographer does color grading ?

[@andreaschmall5560]

Isn't ballroom one word? Yes it is. It's referred to as a compound word and whomever wrote the title should know that.

[@mariocampos5563]

i saw the scene that emma kick the camera

[@miaeliii]

kingggg

[@missg.5940]

Is this streaming or in cinemas?

[@charles-edouardmorel3173]

Cinemas!

[@sammyp9514]

Hated it! Sick themes in this film

[@grahamykins]

Sooo you did fishbowl lens got it.