An in-depth exclusive interview with Academy Award-winning cinematographer ERIK MESSERSCHMIDT discussing his latest film, the Korean War era drama DEVOTION.
SYNOPSIS: “Devotion, an aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the inspirational true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots who helped turn the tide in the most brutal battle in the Korean War: Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in Navy history and his fellow fighter pilot and friend, Tom Hudner. Their heroic sacrifices and enduring friendship would ultimately make them the Navy’s most celebrated wingmen.”
Directed by JD Dillard with script by Jake Crane & Jonathan A. H. Stewart based on the acclaimed book by Adam Makos, DEVOTION stars Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, and Joe Jonas.
There’s something about history and bringing true stories to the big screen in narrative form that fits well with cinematographer ERIK MESSERSCHMIDT. Erik is truly a storyteller with light and lens, always keeping the drama or relationships at the forefront of the story. This makes him perfectly suited to help director JD Dillard tell the story of naval aviators Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner. Brown was the first African-American aviator to complete the U.S. Navy’s basic flight training program and was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded by the military to an individual who displays “single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.” Brown was also the first African-American naval officer killed in the Korean War.
2022 was a big year for stories about naval aviators thanks to “Top Gun” Maverick” and DEVOTION, with the latter stepping back in time with the true story of Brown and Hudner while immersing us in the authenticity of the Korean War era with visual texture, not to mention actual aircraft of the era; specifically, Corsairs and Bearcats, very few of which exist today. Thanks to both of these films, we are given beautiful context for naval aviation history (and it doesn’t hurt to have Glen Powell portraying a pilot in each film), but what sets DEVOTION apart is Erik’s work. Steeping us in that Korean War era in terms of the film’s visual tone by using light and lens, we are immersed in the moment thanks to the intimacy and humanity of the film while keeping the relationship between Brown and Hudner at the heart of it all and still wowing us with incredible aerial photography. The visual tonal bandwidth is stunning.
DEVOTION is a film where the collaboration between cinematographer and director and production designer is essential. And no one disappoints here.
Diving into “the making of” DEVOTION, ERIK MESSERSCHMIDT discusses at length the challenges of bringing DEVOTION to life, not the least of which was working with the Corsairs and Bearcats, camera and lens selection for mounting on the aircraft for that up close and personal “in the heat of the battle” immersion as well to achieve the period look, shooting aerials with the actual planes, to dolly or not to dolly versus steadicam and handheld, finding a location to build the on-deck portions of an aircraft carrier of that era that would allow for take-off and landing of the planes used in the film, weather and most notably wind, positioning of the sun, creating 1950’s Cannes, recreating ground and aerial battle sequences with the Pacific Northwest standing in for Korea, and so much more. And of course, Erik talks about the responsibility of “getting this story right” because of the responsibility to the real events and the men themselves, as well as for the Brown and Hudner families (who gave their blessings to the project and are friends to this day). A fascinating conversation, Erik leaves no stone unturned.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 11/22/2022
