On the latest edition of ‘Take Cover‘ we talk with American Cinematographer’s Managing Editor, Jon Witmer, about their February issue which includes exclusive behind the scenes content from Rogue One’s creators.
The magazine is on newsstands now, and the expanded digital edition available from the ASC site. However the magazine was bursting with so much content that they have published further information from the interviews on their website. The first of these web exclusives comes in the form of a Q & A with Doug Chiang. Here is an extract:
American Cinematographer: How did you come to join the Rogue One production?
Doug Chiang: It was [late] 2013, prior to Gareth’s coming aboard and right when Gary Whitta came on board as the writer. John Knoll [ILM’s senior visual-effects supervisor, who pitched the idea that became Rogue One] really wanted to get some art development, so there was a month or two where we kick-started the art under John’s direction, because we were working with his treatment. That kept going into early 2014, and that was roughly when Gareth signed on board to direct the film. I had a meeting with Gareth in London, and it was fantastic — I saw a kindred spirit. We both admired Episode IV quite a bit, and we had the same influences and the same visual sensibility.
I really connected with Gareth, and that’s when I decided that I wanted to take on a bigger role for this film; I wanted to actually be a production designer for it. I asked Kathy [Kennedy, Lucasfilm’s president], and she agreed. Then it was a matter of finding a partner to help me, because I couldn’t be in London full-time. So we modeled it after Episode VII — the idea of a co-production designer. And it was [The Force Awakens’ co-production designer] Rick Carter who suggested that Neil Lamont could be that person. I’d admired Neil’s work for ages, and I knew that he would be the guy to really complement our partnership.
For the full interview take the link below.
