Captured by cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki on 35mm and 65mm film, and a variety of digital formats, Knight of Cups was finished in 4K at Modern VideoFilm. Bryan McMahan was the digital intermediate colorist in his fourth collaboration with Malick dating back to the director’s 2005 film The New World. Modern’s services also included film scanning (in 4K), editorial finishing and deliverables (including 35mm film out).
McMahan, who also colored the dailies, worked closely with Malick and Lubezki throughout the months-long process of finalizing the film’s look. He noted that the finished film, which centers on a Los Angeles screenwriter, appears unadulterated and natural, and that considerable effort was applied to achieve seamlessness between elements captured with different camera systems.
“It’s beautifully shot,” said McMahan. “Terry prefers a ‘no look’ look, as if you’re looking out a window. He has a very sensitive eye and is very trusting with his collaborators regarding color.”
The Berlin International Film Festival runs Feb. 5-15.
