August 2020 – Below the Line

Over the Weekend: Chadwick Boseman Dies, Cali. Governor Sets Reopening Plans

August 31, 2020 Edward Douglas Comments Off

Although August tends to be rather slow and devoid of news from Hollywood and around the world of film and television production, I’m going to try to provide a weekly Monday morning recap for anyone who has stepped away from the 24-hour news cycle for the weekend and wants a quick overview of what is happening in relevant news. On Friday night, the tragic announcement was released that actor Chadwick Boseman — the […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: Robert Komatsu’s Influential Editing Approach to Mrs. America

August 31, 2020 Mun Kang Comments Off

The FX limited series Mrs. America tells the story of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), as she attempts to upend the movement known as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s. Editor Robert Komatsu has been nominated for his work on the limited series, specifically for the pilot episode, “Phyllis.” Komatsu also edited the episodes “Betty” and “Bella,” but much of the show’s editing style was developed in the pilot, setting […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: Michelle Radow’s Big Little Lies Make-Up

August 31, 2020 Scott Essman Comments Off

Having completed its second season, HBO’s series Big Little Lies, created by David E. Kelley, is nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup, for its fourth episode, “She Knows.” Makeup department head Michelle Radow, who has been in charge of the show’s makeup for all of Season Two, was among the nominees. Steve Artmont supervised Big Little Lies’ makeup department for Season One, and Radow worked in the department for all seven […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: Writing and Planning the Music for Saturday Night Live

August 30, 2020 Edward Douglas Comments Off

Eli Brueggemann has been the musical director at NBC’s popular late night show, Saturday Night Live, since 2011. He’s been there through some of the biggest developments and changes for the show, both comedically and musically, and he’s been nominated eight times for Emmys, having won for co-writing an original song in 2018. In March, when the COVID pandemic hit New York, the entire cast and crew of Saturday Night […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: The Complex Editing in Stranger Things 3

August 30, 2020 Mun Kang Comments Off

The Duffer Brothers once again delivered on extraordinary expectations with the finale episode of Season Three of their highly- acclaimed series, Stranger Things, titled “Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt.” The ultimate showdown and battle rages on in the Starcourt Mall between Eleven and the team of Mike, Will, Lucas, Nancy, Jonathan and Max, as they clash against the Mind Flayer from up above in the food court. Meanwhile, Hopper, […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: Watchmen Director Steph Green

August 29, 2020 Edward Douglas Comments Off

Before making the jump to directing television in 2016, Steph Green was a filmmaker with three shorts, including New Boy, which received an Oscar nomination, and she had already directed her first feature, Run and Jump, as well. Once she moved back to L.A. from Ireland, Green started to get more involved with directing television, first with FX’s The Americans but quickly making her way through a number of shows, including Netflix’s […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: The Intimate Sound of Star Trek: Picard

August 29, 2020 Mun Kang Comments Off

The CBS All Access series Star Trek: Picard features the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his role as the beloved Jean-Luc Picard after the conclusion of Star Trek: The Next Generation and 20 years after his last appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis. The new series focuses on Picard’s next chapter in his life after the death of his dear friend Data with a calling and deep desire to help twin […]

Close Encounters with Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond

August 28, 2020 Scott Essman Comments Off

With equal amounts of artistic intrigue and a dissemination of vital filmmaking crafts, French director Pierre Filmon’s new feature explores the career of cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (1930–2016). Created when Zsigmond was still alive, Close Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond examines the director of photography’s illustrious work and features many of his most notable films. Being a true cinephile, Filmon had long known about Zsigmond, a native of Hungary. “Actually, he was […]

IPV Hosting Webinar Series about Lockdown Production

August 27, 2020 Staff Comments Off

British-based company IPV has announced a new and exclusive series of webinars titled, “Locked Down But Not Out: Creating Video Remotely,” with participants including WarnerMedia, HBO, Sky and Sesame Street to discuss creating and securing remote workflows and maximizing ROI in the age of COVID. Running concurrently with IBC 2020, these webinars offer an exclusive opportunity for members of the video industry at large to get their questions about collaborative content creation […]

EMMY WATCH 2020: Abstract Title Design in The Morning Show

August 26, 2020 Mun Kang Comments Off

When creative directors Angus Wall and Hazel Baird pitched the concept for the main title design for the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, the abstract sphere idea was a major hit with subtle undertones and subcode on human characteristics and behaviors. The idea was broad enough and didn’t hone in on one theme. The abstract design of the main title sequence includes colorful yellow, orange, red, blue, white, and […]