Arbogast Discusses Movie Career (August 6, 2005)

[ChrisReid]

EcranLarge has conducted an interview with Wing Commander movie cinematographer Thierry Arbogast. The conversation covers many aspects of his movie career. Arbogast was also cinematographer for Léon/The Professional, The Fifth Element, Catwoman and many other movies. The article is in French, so you might need the Babelfish. AD has translated the question about his thoughts on Wing Commander.

I had aquired rich knowledge regarding complex special effects while working on the Fifth Element, and I wanted to use this collection on another film. Chris Roberts had his directorial debut with Wing Commander, and I liked the idea of putting my experience at the service of a first film. Chris wanted Wing Commander look like a 1940's war movie. Visually, making a science fiction film look retro interested me. To that extent, I hope that it more or less succeeded.

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Original update published on August 6, 2005

 

[vindicator]

He did a great job making the idea work. I think people that dislike the movie might understand it better if more of the behind the scenes thoughts were discussed like this article.

-Rance-

 

[AD]

That's just it. For the most part, the WC movie turned out just the way it was intended. And In my opinion, area's like the production design and cinematography are spot on and quite effective.

In other area's though the results were mixed. Some strange edits were left behind probably to accomodate the removal of the traitor subplot. There's one particular fadeout after rosie dies that seems so out of place that there must have been a interjecting scene there at one time. Lack of funds and/or a rush might be responsible for them not finding a better transition. And (in my opinion the weakest portion of the movies production) the banal dialogue can be blamed on the script writer (mind you didn't roberts do a last minute 3rd draft rewrite to acommodate a lower budget (less sfx sequences), hence the writing credit?

 

[AD]

I was wondering how much say the DoP has regarding camera angles and movement and such in the CGI sequences? Some of them in the WCM were really great (like the rosie crash) and others a little odd.

On a related note, I really like most of Thierry's work. He collaborates well with Besson and Léon is probably one of my all time favorite movies. (and La Femme Nikita is great unless your watching the dubbed english version. The voice overs are HORRIBLE and they aren't even saying the same thing as they are in french sometimes.)