Cinematographer Quote by Curtis Hanson
“In terms of talking with my collaborators as they came onboard - Jeannine Oppewall, our production designer, Dante Spinotti, our cinematographer, and so forth - I said to them, "Let's pretend that this is a place like Honolulu. Let's ignore the fact that all these other movies have been made here for decades and try to come at it with a fresh eye, as if it were an exotic city that people aren't that familiar with. And let's present our own view of it, create a world that's unique to this movie [L.A Confidential].”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Making of L.A. Confidential, Curtis Hanson, 1997
Approach familiar settings with fresh perspective, treating them as new to create unique cinematic worlds.
In simple terms: See known places as new to craft original visuals.
Reimagine familiar environments creatively.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- film production
- set design
- location scouting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance originality with realism?
- What techniques help fresh eyes on familiar sites?
Risk of losing authenticity when over‑reimagining.