Case Studies
Creating intimacy on screen for Somebody Somewhere
A conversation with Cinematographer Shana Hagan, ASC and Harbor’s Senior Colorist, Nick Hasson.
HBO’s Somebody Somewhere is a popular American comedy drama series. The second season has just finished airing and fans were recently delighted with the news that the series will return for a third season.
The series follows Sam, played by Bridget Everett, as she struggles to fit into her hometown's mould and grapples with loss and acceptance.
The show’s first season saw the beginning of a powerful collaboration between Cinematographer Shana Hagan, ASC and Colorist Nick Hasson and it would be easy to assume that the pair have been working together for some time.
Developing LUTs
Hagan described the visual goal for the series as being a very unobtrusive, observational “friend in the room” approach, to allow the actors’ performances to shine.
The show was shot on the ALEXA Mini and recorded to QuickTime ProRes 4444. Season one was played a little wider with a few well-chosen close-ups. And in season two, as the characters grew closer to each other, Hagan found the camera coming closer too.
“By stripping the cinematography down to the most raw and natural level, we can make you feel that you're in the room with these people – like they’re your neighbors or your friends.”
