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Frybread Face and Me is a coming-of-age film set on a Navajo reservation.
Lens/Camera Information
Lens series: Anamorphic/i FF
Focus lengths: Various
Camera: ARRI Alexa Mini
Format: Digital
Director of Photography: Peter Simonite, ASC, CSC
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Production Information
Production: Frybread Face and Me
Producer: Chad Burris
Director: Billy Luther
DOP Peter Simonite on the lens of his choice:
Frybread Face and Me is a coming-of-age film set on a Navajo reservation. Benny is a 12-year-old city kid who gets dropped off at his grandmother’s home for the summer. The film is set in the 90s and we wanted to create a cinematic look that’s warm and inviting, but also with a hint of nostalgia. I chose the Cooke Special flare anamorphic lenses because they capture the landscapes and rendered faces beautifully. There’s a gentleness to the flares and a creaminess to the image, but without losing sharpness. We were working with a small budget and short hours, so the crew had to be incredibly nimble. We worked with a minimal lighting package and had to move fast throughout the entire production. And the Cooke anamorphic lenses provided a consistent look that we knew we could lean into. The children had limited hours on set and there was a documentary aspect to the filming. The director Billy wanted to treat the scenes with Grandma in a documentary style. We shot on the Alexa Mini with the Eric Trinity for almost the entire film. The Trinity paired with the Cook Anamorphics elevated the documentary feel, making for a cinematic look that we were all in love with.
