An exclusive interview with cinematographer JAC FITZGERALD discussing the lighting and lensing of MASTERS OF THE AIR, particularly Episodes 105 and 106 for which she was responsible.
SYNOPSIS: Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by John Orloff, “Masters of the Air” follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air. Portraying the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich, is at the heart of “Masters of the Air.” Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.
Boasting a cast led by, among others, Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Nate Mann, Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, Nikolai Kinski, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sawyer Spielberg, and James Murray, in an undertaking almost as Herculean as that of the Allies in World War II, adapting MASTERS OF THE AIR for the screen was spearheaded by creators John Shiban and showrunner and co-executive producer John Orloff, who also served as chief writer of the series. As a point of reference, Orloff was previously responsible for writing some of the episodes for another acclaimed series about World War II, “Band of Brothers.” Joining Orloff in scripting duties for some of the nine episodes of MASTERS OF THE AIR episodes were Dee Rees and Joel Anderson Thompson. Directorial duties fell to Cary Joji Fukunga, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Dee Rees, and Timothy Van Patten. Also spreading the wealth among multiple cinematographers, lighting and lensing duties were handed over to Adam Arkapaw, Richard Rutkowski, David Franco, and Jac Fitzgerald, the latter who worked with directors Boden and Fleck for episodes 105 and 106. Overseeing the editing of all nine episodes was Mark Czyzewski.
Speaking with cinematographer JAC FITZGERALD in this exclusive interview, although Jac also lent a hand in other episodes, her primary episodes were 105 and 106 and our interview focused primarily on those.
In Episode 105, “the 100th returns from the Bremen mission after taking heavy casualties. Lt. Crosby (Anthony Boyle) replaces Captain “Bubbles” Payne (Louis Greatorex) as the lead navigator and is promoted. Major Egan (Callum Turner) leads another bombing raid to Munster just days after the Bremen mission. The mission ends disastrously for the 100th after they are intercepted by swarms of fighters. All but one B-17, piloted by Lt. Rosenthal (Nate Mann), are shot down. Having bailed from his doomed plane, Major Egan (Turner) parachutes alone into the German countryside of Westphalia.”
In Episode 106, it’s now “October 1943; Major Egan (Callum Turner) is taken prisoner and almost dies after he and other downed pilots are attacked by civilians while being marched through a bombed town, a reflection of the Russelsheim massacre in August 1944. He is taken to Dulag Luft for interrogation before being transferred to Stalag Luft III. There, he meets other comrades from the 100th, including Cleven (Austin Butler). Lt. Rosenthal (Nate Mann) and his crew are sent to a country estate for relaxation and counseling, which Rosenthal resists. Captain Crosby (Anthony Boyle) attends a conference at the University of Oxford where he meets a British ATS officer whom he bonds with before she is unexpectedly called away.”
The centerpiece emotional powerhouses of MASTERS OF THE AIR which provide a tonal shift at this series midpoint, these two episodes directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck “pull the humanity” out of the story, exploring the depth of despair, the true emotional and psychological horrors of war, and finding power within darkness. A significant storytelling element in these two episodes is that the focus is shifted away from Bucky and the spotlight is placed on Egan and Rosie. And the visual grammar and Jac’s work with lighting and lensing reflect this.
Digging into the storytelling and cinematographic process, JAC FITZGERALD discusses, among others:
- visual storytelling in war drama
- the challenges of filming aerial combat scenes
- filming locations and lighting specificity
- capturing the emotional range of performances and characters through a meld of close-ups, ECUs, and VFX
- collaborating with Boden and Fleck on lighting and shot planning
- filming techniques and establishing visual grammar focusing on the emotional complexity of characters and story
- challenges of lighting sequences within a plane and filming within a plane; stripping wings; building a B17 in a studio
- the physical size of individuals today versus those in the 1940s and how that impacted actors navigating within the plane (original specs) and by extension, informing camera movement
- shooting Episode 106 with more open spaces and exteriors; Oxford
- emotional shifts in Episode 106
- lighting metaphor
- collaboration among the departments
- authenticity
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 02/27/2024
MASTERS OF THE AIR is now streaming on AppleTV+.
