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When second-hand information becomes misconstrued, the man who shared it must face the consequence of his own making.
Lens/Camera Information
Lens series: Cooke Varotal/i
Focus lengths: 85-215mm
Camera: Arri Amira
Format: Digital
Production information
Director of Photography: Oliver James Newman
DOP Instagram: oliverjamesnewman
Director: Oliver James Newman
DOP website: oliverjamesnewman.com
Producer: Nick Hafezi
Colourist: Cristina Giribets
Post production company: Wild Island Films
Awards: Lift off film festival, One minute shorts, Wrap film festival, short frame, shortverse
From the earliest stages, we knew a long lens would define the visual language of the project, shaping how the audience experiences our characters’ intimacy and isolation. After testing several lenses, we chose the Cooke Varotal/i 85–215mm zoom for its warm, clean optics, rich skin tones, and clarity to capture textures like reflections and window dirt.
We shot on the ARRI Amira in Super 35, primarily using daylight. The lens’s consistent characteristics allowed us to remain mobile and experiment with framing in a single location. Inspired by 12 Angry Men, we gradually increased the focal length from 85mm and by the end were shooting exclusively shooting at 215mm. subtly transforming the perception of space and tension.
The film draws its inspiration from 1970s cinema that embraced zoom lenses. After attending a 35mm screening of The Conversation and studying its opening scene, which in a way was the incubus for our film, I realised the character was tied to the language of long lenses, particularly long zooms. The Cooke Varotal/i’s natural look and smooth focus roll-off could isolate characters within their environment, letting details and textures contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
In post, Wild Island Films refined colour grading to enhance the lens’s warmth, clarity, and textures, maintaining the organic visual environment. The Cooke lens merged aesthetic, practical, and cinematic considerations, delivering warmth, clarity, and flexibility. Its contribution is inseparable from the film’s identity, shaping audience engagement and supporting the story while maintaining a consistent cinematic style. The collaboration with the Cooke team was instrumental in bringing the film to life.
