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MOTION PICTURE & PRO-VIDEO
BREAST CANCER CARE
‘Strength Through Support’
The latest collaboration between director Mike Leigh and DP Dick Pope BSC is an arresting film that highlights the work of the Breast Cancer Care charity. An impressive cast describe the importance of its continuing work, as part of
a campaign currently running in cinemas. Anwar Brett talked to Dick Pope.
The film follows a succession of familiar female faces, as well as a couple of
former breast cancer sufferers. The aim of it is to raise aware-
ness of the work that the charity does, as well as trying to raise funds. It’s being shown in cinemas, with collec-
“tions being taken at each location. The women involved are Cherie Blair, Joan Bakewell, Jerry Hall, Zoe
Ball, Geri Halliwell, Meera Syal, Lorraine Kelly, Denise Van Outen, Denise Lewis and Alison Steadman.
We set it up on a stage and all of our subjects were shot in more or less the same frame, against the same background, looking straight towards the lens and addressing the camera. It was pretty straightforward and, of course, I wanted to make them look good but I didn’t want the effect to be too glamorous.
motion picture n” Fuji Motion Picture And Professional Video • Exposure • 17
Agency: M&C Saatchi Production company: Cowboy Films Director: Mike Leigh Producers: Robert Bray & Martha Green
I chose the Super F-250 8552 tung- sten stock for the job because it is my favourite Fuji emulsion and I wanted its fine grain because it was going to cinema via tape. Anything slower would have required more light and I wanted our subjects to feel relaxed and comfortable and not under the glare of big lights.
However, I did use a light soft effects filter, and also employed a ring- light. But it’s something very real that they’re talking about here, there’s no artifice to it, and though the faces all look fascinating, like a series of por- traits, they are realistic enough not to detract from the main message.
I shot it with the camera set for Super 35 HDTV, to gain the biggest pic- ture area possible, maximising quality for the cinema screen. Above all, the most important thing is what they are saying, and that the message gets home to the audience.
The camera is quite near the sub- ject in each case, to make it seem like a one to one exchange. A long lens would have distanced them from the viewer. We wanted to be close up and personal, so that it’s as if they’re talk- ing directly to you, the audience.
Mike and I are always exploring this intimacy in our work
together. We both love por-
traits and being in there. It’s a powerful thing. This is just an extension of that. ■
Breast Cancer Care was originated on 35mm Super F-250 8552
egative
Photo main: Denise Van Outen; Inset: Mike Leigh directing Denise Lewis