My lightmeter is bigger than your lightmeter
Cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs, ASC and Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC star in this fabulous buddy movie, airing on PBS Independent Lens, Thursday, November 17 at 10pm EST. (check your local listings). The documentary is a seat-of-pants great escape movie, as film students Kovacs and Zsigmond film the Russian invasion of Hungary, and get to the West with the smuggled footage. It’s also a road movie: the two friends make their way to Hollywood, where they help define the American New Wave. Directed by fellow cinematographer James Chressanthis, ASC, with commentary and appearances by a who’s who of colleagues, directors and actors with whom they’ve worked. Required viewing for anyone interested in film.
I had the great fortune to attend a cinematography seminar with Vilmos at the Maine Photo Workshops in 1977. It was one of my most unforgettable professional experiences I’ve ever had. He was accesible, friendly, and went out of the way to share his great talent with us. To this date, every time I am behind the camera, I feel his pressence showing me how to do it.