The Prayer

Lens/Camera Information
Lens series: Cooke Xtal Express Anamorphic
Focus length: 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm
Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Cameras: Arri Alexa Mini
Format: Digital
Rental Company: Panavision Johannesburg https://www.panavision.com/worldwide/panavision-johannesburg

DOP Information
Director of Photography: Brendan “Bugsy” Barnes SACS https://brendanbarnes.com/
Agent: Krewkut https://www.krewkut.co.za/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendanbarnesdop/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/brendanbarnes

Production Information
Production: The Prayer
Producer: Jhadi Quinn
Director: Ernest Nkosi
Production Company: Seriti Films http://www.seriti.tv/
Post Production Company: Ludus https://www.ludus.co.za/
IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4794608/

Awards:
The One Show – Moving Image Craft – Cinematography

DOP Brendan “Bugsy” Barnes on his camera and lens choices
“The Director and I wanted to use a lens that would serve to heighten the fear and confusion felt by our lead character as he becomes the victim of xenophobic violence.

On an aesthetic level, we felt that the striking character of the Cooke Xtal Express glass would be well suited to achieve this goal. The dramatic flare characteristics imbue the image with energy and the many imperfections of the vintage glass were just what we needed to elevate the intensity of the scene. The anamorphic curvature and unique falloff and bokeh adds a hint of impressionism to this terrifying and unfortunately, very real story from South Africa.

On a practical level, the Xtals were small enough to operate handheld in a tiny space like the inside of a shack. This allowed the camera operation and movement to feel intensely subjective and pull the viewer into the scene.”