In this interview for WSJ. Magazine’s Innovators issue, Scorsese discusses his first experience on the set of “Smiles,” directed by John G. Avildsen of “Rocky,” and working with Albert and David Maysles. He also looks back on his job responsibilities at the edit desks in broadcast news and shares the storytelling drive that got him to where he is today.
•Cinematographer: A person responsible for capturing the visual elements of a film.
The talented cinematographer created stunning visuals that enhanced the storytelling in the movie.
•Assisting Cameraman: Someone who supports the cameraman in various tasks related to filming.
Starting as an assisting cameraman, he learned the ropes of operating the camera and ensuring the shots were perfect.
•Anticipate: To foresee or predict something and act accordingly.
With his experience, he could anticipate the actor's movements and adjust the camera accordingly to capture the perfect shot.
•Feature Films: Full-length movies typically shown in theatres.
Martin Scorsese has directed numerous feature films, including classics like “Goodfellas" and “The Irishman.”
•Garment District: A specific area of a city where the fashion and clothing industry is concentrated.
The New York City Garment District is a hub for fashion designers and clothing manufacturers.
•Editing Department: A division responsible for editing and assembling film footage.
The editing department spent hours meticulously piecing together the raw footage to create a compelling final product.
•Focus (in the context of cinematography): To adjust the camera lens to make the subject of a shot sharp and clear.
Achieving perfect focus in low-light conditions can be challenging for cinematographers.
•Driven (in the context of motivation): Having a strong and compelling desire or ambition.
His driven nature and passion for filmmaking led him to pursue a successful career in the movie industry.
•Motivation: The reason or incentive that drives someone to do something.
The prospect of winning an award served as strong motivation for the team's dedication to the film project.
•Footage: Recorded or captured film material, typically unedited.
The director reviewed the footage to ensure the clarity and quality of the recorded material for the movie.