Erica Tremblay‘s Fancy Dance, which is now available on Apple TV+, is a crime drama without any sensationalistic touches. It’s grounded, the kind of sunny, sweaty drama that feels like it’s out of the 1970s. Cinematographer Carolina Costa didn’t have those sorts of movies on her mind while making the film, but she achieves a similar effect and the camera is completely in tune with the characters and their surroundings. In this case, Jax (played by Lily Gladstone) and her niece, Riki (Isabel DeRoy-Olson), on a reservation in Oklahoma.
Costa previously shot episodes of Insecure and High School, as well as the acclaimed film Heroico. Recently, she spoke with Immersive Media’s editor-in-chief, Jack Giroux, about Fancy Dance and shared her go-to advice for aspiring cinematographers:
I think the industry has changed so much. I started working as an A camera assistant 20 years ago, so it has changed a lot. I think the one advice I always give, I train a lot of young women from Latin America. My advice is always don’t get stuck on the technical stuff. Really think about the story and the people you’re portraying because those should guide your choices. I think people are too stuck in choosing lenses and this and that, and it is really not falling in love with the people they’re portraying.
I think if you are some kind of minority, your chances are slimmer, and that’s the truth of our industry and many others. But I would say gear up with your technical knowledge because that’s going to be put to test. Also, for you to support those great ideas and filmmakers to help them tell the stories.
I work a lot of times we first-time directors, and I’m sure a lot of people do that too, and how are you going to support them and their ideas if you don’t have the technical knowledge? But don’t get stuck up on that. That’s usually what I say.
Check back for more soon from cinematographer Carolina Costa.
