The Mannequin

Lens/Camera Information
Lens series: Cooke Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus 1.8x SF
Focus lengths: 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 85mm Macro, 100mm, 135mm
Camera: ARRI Alexa Mini LF
Format: Digital

Original aspect ratio: 2.40:1

Production information
Director of Photography: Jonathan Pope
DOP Instagram: @jonathanpopedp
Director: John Berardo
DOP website: jonathanpope.com
Producers: Maxwell Hamilton, Ashley Rosenberg
Colourist: Tyler Roth
Production company: Shatterproof Films
Post production company: Company3
Distributer: Jackrabbit Media
Rental: Keslow Camera
Awards: Film Invasion L.A. – Best Cinematography, Best Feature Film – Horror, Best Screenplay – Feature Film, Best Production Design

THE MANNEQUIN, shot over the course of just 12 days, is a supernatural horror that tells the story of four friends contending with an evil spirit in a historic Los Angeles loft. The film often straddles the line between dramatic horror and a more lighthearted thriller.

From the opening frame of the 1950’s-inspired black and white cold open to the numerous possession sequences, we strove to capture the necessary dramatic heft, while also injecting the film with a healthy dose of fun.

Early on, we knew that we wanted to shoot anamorphic, giving the film an instant style that feels modern and classically cinematic. I immediately looked to one of my favorite lens sets, the Cooke Anamorphic/i SF Full Frame Plus 1.8x, paired with the ARRI Alexa Mini LF.

I’ve always loved “The Cooke Look” and the Anamorphic/i SF are no exception. They feature subtle edge falloff, gently defined bokeh, stunning clarity, and beautifully organic flares. The focal range is also quite impressive, from the 32mm, which we used for large tableaus with multiple characters held in focus, to the 85mm Macro, which we used extensively for portraiture and details.

Pairing these with ARRI’s fantastic color science and the Mini LF’s gorgeous large format sensor provided a rich palette and opportunities for the isolation and shaping of characters within otherwise vacuous spaces through light, shadow and carefully curated compositions.