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A14 people & Arts
Tuesday 22 March 2022
Ari Wegner: The other woman behind ‘The Power of the Dog’

By LINDSEY BAHR And yet, the part of the
AP Film Writer shoot that Wegner was
Next week, Ari Wegner most anxious about was the
could make Oscar history. interiors. She worried about
The 37-year-old Australian creating an authentic en-
has a very good shot at be- vironment in a big, sterile
ing the first woman to win warehouse in Aukland wor-
an Academy Award for thy of a Campion film.
best cinematography for “In the end, it turned into
helping create the indel- one of the greatest joys of
ible images of “The Power starting with a completely
of the Dog” alongside di- blank slate and being able
rector Jane Campion. to control absolutely every-
Together, Campion and thing,” Wegner said. “It was
Wegner battled the ex- a real playground.”
treme conditions of the Shooting the exteriors first
New Zealand landscape was a blessing, too. She
to transport audiences to was more aware of when
a desolate ranch in 1920s something felt off, like when
Montana and create an the air was too still or clear
unforgettable piece about or the light not wild enough
human fragility. Some of the to match the conditions in
images, like a shot of two the valley, and they could
actors silhouetted through This image released by Netflix shows cinematographer Ari Wegner, left, with producer-director adjust appropriately.
a barn door, are the kinds Jane Campion on the set of “The Power of the Dog.” Wegner was always open
that aspiring filmmakers are Associated Press to inspiration in the mo-
already studying. while the visual languages landscape and discuss ev- challenges of shooting in ment, too, like when the
And they might have nev- of the films were distinct ery aspect of the film, from the valley, which is one of clouds would part perfectly
er met were it not for an and impactful, they did small technical details to the windiest places on the and the mountains looked
Australian bank commer- have one thing in com- the themes and values they island. great. She was conscious
cial. Campion, an Oscar- mon: They were all lower wanted to communicate. “I can only relate it to skiing of being attuned to “the
winning auteur, had never budget, independent fare. “I had read about other on a sunny day when the possibility of some really
done a commercial be- “The Power of the Dog” was filmmakers having these sun’s coming down and it’s beautiful iconic frames.”
fore, but she said yes to that in a different league and dream pre-productions. I also bouncing up at you. Campion invited her col-
one and hit it off with the not just because of Cam- thought, well, that’s some- The air is even intense,” We- laborators to seize on un-
young cinematographer. pion’s involvement. Here thing that happens to other gner said. “It is a really hard planned opportunities, one
Yet it was still an adrena- they would have the back- people,” Wegner said. “But environment to think cre- of which happened to be
line rush for Wegner to get ing of Netflix. The streaming I had an instinct that with atively in because a lot of the shot in the barn, which
a call from Campion a few company gave Campion more time that there was the time you are just trying they captured after they’d
years later about a poten- a budget that she’d never another level of filmmak- to keep your eyes open.” shot the scene. Wegner
tial project to adapt Thom- had the chance to work ing out there. And that was Every morning, they’d said Campion created a
as Savage’s 1967 book. She with before. “It was like definitely the case.” prep inside over tea and “spell of calm” on the set
went out that day, bought working with the Medicis,” They got to know the con- toast before heading out that allowed for improvisa-
it and read it. Campion said. ditions on New Zealand’s to brave the elements be- tions.
Wegner was already mak- Wegner and Campion South Island so that when cause, “It’s hard to come “When you’re with her, the
ing a name for herself with got a year of prep to drive it came time to shoot they up with a plan from scratch seconds on the clock kind
work on films like “Lady around New Zealand, scout knew what they’d be work- when your body is under of tick slower,” Wegner
Macbeth” and “Zola.” But locations, learn about the ing with. But there were still assault.” said.q

As gas prices rise, towns add electric

car charging stations

ing as interest in alterna- electric vehicles. Strong grants to install electric ve-
tives to gasoline-powered demand is forecast for hicle charging stations in
vehicles is on the rise and the vehicles, despite their 24 tourist areas around the
could heighten further due higher prices and limited state. The idea was to help
to a global spike in gaso- availability, meaning even spur tourism by reassur-
line prices. more communities will feel ing visitors who own elec-
Though most of the plans pressure to add charging tric vehicles that they can
were in the works before stations or risk having mo- come to a vacation spot
already high gas prices torists pass them by in favor in New Jersey and not run
surged because of the war of plug-in-friendly places. out of power to get back
in Ukraine, the timing may The publicly funded in- home. “Don’t worry about
work in favor of electric vestments come as gaso- it,” said Joseph Fiordaliso,
An electric vehicle charging station is pictured on March 21, vehicle makers and other line prices in most of the president of the New Jer-
2022, in Asbury Park, N.J. proponents of ditching fos- country are above $4 a sey Board of Public Utilities.
Associated Press sil fuels. gallon and significantly “We have the equipment
By WAYNE PARRY A wave of new electric From coast to coast, cit- more in some spots. On here so that you don’t
Associated Press vehicle charging stations ies big and small are add- Monday, New Jersey offi- have to have range anxi-
ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) — across the country is com- ing charging stations for cials awarded $1 million in ety.” q