Director of Photography Ben Davis discusses the visual palette and context of the superhero film starring Benedict Cumberbatch!
[dropcap size=small]O[/dropcap]n August 4th at a BAFTA Masterclass in London, Doctor Strange DoP Ben Davis gave us an idea on what we would be looking at in Doctor Strange! Davis said the movie’s visual will be influenced by pictures of 20th century artist M.C. Escher, who is known for his inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints, including impossible constructions and explorations of infinity.
“It has a very psychedelic grounding, and it’s not your typical Marvel action movie,” he stated, before noting that his initial reaction to the project was that it could be “Marvel’s Fantasia”.
“Most of the work within it is about other dimensions. And I described it, I think, when I was talking to Marvel as Marvel’s Fantasia, in a way, because it’s so sort of out there and different to everything else that they’ve done.”
“There’s a lot of previsualisation, and there’s a lot of work which is very hard – you look at it and you see the imagery that they’ve created for it and you think, ‘well how the hell do we shoot that!?’ because it’s all sort of Escher stuff.
“It’s all very out there,” he continued. “I can’t really say much more about it, I’m afraid. But I think it’ll be really interesting, and it’s a very dark movie, I’m pleased to say.
“DP’s always love the word ‘dark’. The trouble is that most producers don’t like dark. Mostly you get into DI [Digital Intermediate process] and people don’t seem to like dark anymore!”
Davis’s recent notable work includes Wrath of the Titans, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron
Doctor Strange will begin shooting in the UK later this year!
