About the Exhibition

Cinema relies on imagery to tell stories effectively. From styling a location to framing a shot, the production design team and the cinematographer collaborate to create a film’s look. The former oversees what is seen on set, and the latter is responsible for how it is captured on camera. Together these key production roles infuse each movie with its unique visual language. Through interviews and scene analyses, Image offers insights into the techniques, influences, and artistry of production designers, set decorators, location managers, and cinematographers who have created memorable onscreen imagery. In addition to newly recorded material, it draws from the archive of the Academy’s Visual History Program. This ambitious initiative has produced more than 250 long-form oral history videos in which practitioners from around the globe discuss their cinematic careers. Thanks to this undertaking and others, the Academy has become the primary repository for filmmaker interviews from various sources, with over 2,000 recordings in its care for long-term preservation and access by scholars and the public. These personal accounts provide invaluable insight into the evolution of the art, science, and craft of motion pictures. Image features Ken Adam, Kokayi Ampah, Natasha Braier, Rosemary Brandenburg, Eugenio Caballero, Ernest Dickerson, Jay Hart, Ellen Kuras, Rachel Morrison, Rodrigo Prieto, Dean Tavoularis, Wynn Thomas, and Haskell Wexler.

This gallery is curated by Assistant Curator Sophia Serrano.