How To Get the Perfect Shot with Cinematographer Jayson Crothers

Kino Society with Owen Shapiro

When you understand the purpose of the shot, you will know how to get the perfect shot. Today's guest is Jayson Crothers, a talented cinematographer who has developed successfully in film and television, working on movies like Coldwater and shows like Chicago Fire. As a child in the early 80’s he became very interested in the mechanics of cinema because his father ran a single-screen movie theater. Determined to pursue the profession he wanted to follow, in the 1990s he earned his BA from Columbia College Chicago and his MFA from the American Film Institute. Loving what he does, Crothers feels fortunate to collaborate with people who share his talents and passions, so in his spare time he teaches filmmaking classes that have taken him around the world. His latest work, Cruel Summer, a new series produced by Jessica Biel for Hulu and Amazon, premiered at the SXSW 2021 festival.

Here is what you'll learn:

• Jayson tells us how he first became interested in film as a child at the theater where his father worked.
• He believes that Cruel Summer is definitely the highlight of his career thus far.
• Jayson states that in the process of doing something creative, you are also learning and growing. So when you're done, you might want to do it a little differently.
• Jayson says a good thing about COVID is keeping days shorter, which requires productions to focus on being more efficient.
• What makes a good shot?
• How the movie Seven aroused interest in him for dedicating himself to cinematography and for being interested in photography.
• Movies or TV? Jayson chooses TV because usually you have a lot of time to really explore stories and characters.

To learn more about Jayson, follow him on Instagram, or visit his website.

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