Rodrigo Prieto, the talented Mexican cinematographer, has lit up the silver screen with his visual and narrative prowess, earning recognition not only in Mexico but on the international film scene. With four nominations for the prestigious Oscar awardPrieto is a master of his craft and an ambassador of Mexican cinema in Hollywood.
In a recent virtual round table, Prieto shared his unique take on the Oscars, seeing them as more of a celebration than a competition. For him, the awards represent an opportunity to unite with colleagues in the industry, exchange experiences and appreciate the art of cinema as a whole.
The renowned cinematographer with a distinguished career in international cinema, reveals his secrets and unique approaches to achieving impactful cinematography. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive style that combines a deep understanding of narrative with a unique vision of lighting and color. Here there is some tips taken from his approach:
Understand the character’s perspective
Prieto highlights the importance of thoroughly understanding each character and their vision of the world. In movies like The Irishman, designed each shot to reflect the protagonist’s point of view, creating a visual connection with the audience. Before you start filming, delve into the psychology of your characters and look for creative ways to represent their perspective through cinematography.
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Play with lighting and color
Prieto’s mastery lies in his ability to use lighting and color in bold ways. Since the use of amorphous lenses in Babel to symbolize the deafness of a character to the choice of emulations of different photographic films to represent different decades in The Irishmanthus demonstrating how the visual palette can deepen the narrative.
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Differentiate worlds and moods
Each Rodrigo Prieto project presents visually distinctive worlds. From representing the Japanese era in the style of the screens of that time to being inspired by a Diego Rivera mural for the lighting of 8 Mile, photography advocates differentiating worlds, moods or moments through cinematography.
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Preparation and collaboration
The cinematographer reveals that he spends time in intensive preparation before each project. From spending days alone in a hotel room going over the script to discussing and explaining every shot with the director, his meticulous and collaborative approach translates into powerful images.
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Emulate still photography
Prieto’s initial focus is often still photography, finding inspiration in captured natural light. This gives him a solid and exciting foundation to emulate in his films, highlighting the importance of the connection between still and moving photography.
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Adapt style to content
Prieto demonstrates the importance of adapting the visual style to the film’s narrative. Whether drawing on baroque art to represent missionaries in Silence or using more controlled techniques for the CIA section in The Good Shepherdevery visual choice is carefully aligned with the story being told.
Feel the image
Finally, emphasize the importance of feeling the image. When testing, you ask if the image captures the emotional essence of the story you are telling. For him, cinematography goes beyond creating beautiful shots; It’s about expressing the emotion of the story.
Prieto’s fourth Oscar nomination comes thanks to his exceptional work on the film The Moon Killers, directed by the iconic Martin Scorsese. The film received 10 nominations in total, highlighting the effective collaboration between director and cinematographer.
Prieto’s journey in the world of cinema began in Mexico City in 1965. A graduate of the Cinematographic Training Center, his first steps were in television commercials at the age of 22. Since then, he has explored various genres and collaborated with notable directors.
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