DYNAMIC DUOS
When showrunner Nick Antosca created Cape Fear, DOP Celiana Cárdenas immediately came to mind. We find out what makes them gel and how they turned the series – their third together – into an Apple TV hit Nick Antosca & Celiana Cárdenas, AMC DYNAMIC DUOS
INTERVIEW KATIE KASPERSON IMAGES APPLE TV
DEFINITION: When did your working relationship begin? Tell me about your first project together.
DEF: Nick, why did you feel so strongly about bringing Celiana
DEF: Tell me about how you established the look of the show. Was it ever challenging, working with so many different directors? NA: So much happens before we’re shooting, in terms of prep, choosing the colour palette and so on. Celi, Eben Bolter, the pilot director and I did a lot of that work, but we also left enough space for every new director to come in and innovate.
on for Cape Fear?
NICK ANTOSCA: We’ve done a number of shows together, starting
NA: The only time I’ve ever directed was on an episode
with Brand New Cherry Flavor . Celi shot every episode. I had admired her work before that and was excited by the opportunity to work with her. CELIANA CÁRDENAS: Before Brand New Cherry Flavor , Nick did another series called Channel Zero , and he interviewed me for that series. The network didn’t approve me because I didn’t have any experience in TV. Nick came looking for me again for Brand New Cherry Flavor ; he was like, ‘No, I want you and I’m going to fight for you.’
of Brand New Cherry Flavor , with Celi as the DOP. I saw how supportive she was in terms of the vision but also the emotion. Every cool visual is motivated by the psychology of the scene. It’s so valuable to have the DOP also be an advocate for the story. When we were going to do Cape Fear , I really wanted to work with her again. Celi is a leader who sets the tone, not just in the camera department but also on the set as a whole. The actors trust and like her. Thank God she was available.
CC: We had nine directors for ten episodes. As always, you’re
dealing with different visions, different personalities. Neither Nick nor I knew these directors previously. We knew what they were capable of. My job was to help them with their vision but with my gaze.
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