The magic of cinema often lies in the collaborative spirit between a director and their director of photography.
Recently, the powerhouse duo of cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw (The Sun Is Also a Star, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Last Showgirl) and director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther) sat down at IMAX headquarters for an insightful conversation.
Their focus? Unpacking the intricate process of bringing their latest project, presumably the highly anticipated film Sinners, to life on the grandest canvas imaginable – the IMAX screen.
In the video below, you can watch their discussion, which delves into the nuances of their creative partnership, exploring how their individual visions intertwined to shape the film's visual language.
Interestingly, the pair also revealed that they sought guidance from two titans of modern cinema: the acclaimed director Christopher Nolan and his frequent collaborator, the masterful cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.
Beyond the collaborative process, Autumn Durald Arkapaw's work on Sinners marks a significant milestone. She has etched her name in cinematic history as the first woman to ever shoot a theatrical feature film in breathtaking 65mm and the immersive IMAX format.
This achievement underscores her reputation as a true visionary in the field of cinematography.
During the course of their conversation, the pair revealed that Sinners is inspired by The Thing, There Will Be Blood, and The Last Emperor.
Ahead of its April 18th premiere, Sinners has debuted with a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores from 20+ reviews. The film is already being hailed as the first must-see feature of 2025.
About Sinners:
The night belongs to sinners. Only in theaters April 18.
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
“You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.”
Written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Coogler, “Sinners” stars Jordan in a dual role, joined by Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku , Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Miles Caton, and Delroy Lindo.
The film is produced by Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler. The executive producers are Ludwig Göransson, Will Greenfield and Rebecca Cho.
Coogler’s behind-the-camera artisans include his “Black Panther” franchise collaborators: director of photography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler, editor Michael P. Shawver, Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, and Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter.