An in-depth conversation in this extended exclusive interview with cinematographer JOHN MATYSIAK talking the visually stunning and immersive western from Potsy Ponciroli, OLD HENRY.
One of the most passionate and creative young cinematographers to come around, John’s concern for the detail and authenticity in costume and production design speaks volumes as to his collaborative spirit on a project and his understanding of how the work of each department affects that of the other. Honest, open, and engaging, this is an interview that you’ll not only enjoy but find enlightening.
Set in 1906, OLD HENRY is the story of an old farmer who has seen better days, days long buried. But what happens when Henry gives aid to an injured man and a gun-toting posse shows up at his door?
Written and directed by Potsy Ponciroli, OLD HENRY stars Tim Blake Nelson in an award-worthy turn as Henry, Gavin Lewis as Henry’s son Wyatt, Trace Adkins as Al, Scott Haze as the injured stranger Curry, and then Stephen Dorff, in one of the best performances of his career, as Ketchum leads a gun-toting, trigger-finger-happy posse descending upon Henry’s farm in search of someone and something.
Patient and pot-boiling, this is a film you should see and an interview you should hear as John talks about his intense collaboration with writer/director Potsy Ponciroli, the importance of the location and how it influenced not only Potsy’s script and story but also John’s approach to lighting and framing, the importance of authenticity in costuming and the detailed period set dress, integration of production design including build-out to the 100-year old house used as Henry’s farm with the cinematography particularly with multiple sequences involving “under the house” and around the house lensing during shoot-outs, challenges of the forested area used for a climactic chase sequence and shoot-out, working around and with Mother Nature, shooting horses and pigs, the importance of select ECUs, dutching and panoramic vistas, use of artificial light with ARRI 1812 diffused Skypanels, shooting with the ARRI Alexa-mini, and so much more.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview September 17, 2021
