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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…” quote by Curtis Hanson
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“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].”

Curtis Hanson

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.

Key Takeaway

Reimagine familiar environments creatively.

Themes

creativity visual storytelling film making perspective collaboration

Mood

inventive thoughtful collaborative

Type

analytical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • film production
  • set design
  • location scouting
  • creative workshops

Key Concepts

reframing design thinking visual innovation team dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance originality with realism?
  • What techniques help fresh eyes on familiar sites?
A Different Perspective

Risk of losing authenticity when over‑reimagining.

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