Visions of Light
“The Art of Cinematography”
Synopsis
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
Top Cast
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Ernest R. Dickerson
Self
Michael Chapman
Self
Allen Daviau
Self
Caleb Deschanel
Self
Lisa Rinzler
Self
Conrad Hall
Self
William A. Fraker
Self
John Bailey
Self
Néstor Almendros
Self
Charles Rosher Jr.
Self
Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
Stephen H. Burum
Self
Harry L. Wolf
Self
Charles Lang
Self
Sven Nykvist
Self
Robert Wise
Self
László Kovács
Self
James Wong Howe
Self (archive footage)
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 24, 1993
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Stuart Samuels, Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy
- Screenplay & Story
- Todd McCarthy
- Original Title
- Visions of Light
- Country of Origin
- Japan, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- AFI, NHK
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Stuart Samuels, Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Karen Grossman, Nancy Schreiber
Arnold Glassman
Terry Lawler, Stuart Samuels, Yoshiki Nishimura, 西村与志木
Department Leadership Roster
Arnold Glassman
Editor
Stuart Samuels
Director
Arnold Glassman
Director
Todd McCarthy
Director
Todd McCarthy
Writer
Nancy Schreiber
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Visions of Light.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Visions of Light.
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Missing Mine
1990
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Frequently Asked Questions About Visions of Light
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Visions of Light about?
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
Who directed Visions of Light?
Visions of Light was directed by Stuart Samuels, Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy.
Who stars in Visions of Light?
The principal cast of Visions of Light includes Ernest R. Dickerson, Michael Chapman, Allen Daviau, Caleb Deschanel, Lisa Rinzler.
When was Visions of Light released and how long is it?
Visions of Light was released in 1992 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.