In Conversation with Director of Photography Boaz Freund
Director of photography Boaz Freund has moved from strength to strength in his career. From advertisements for global companies like LEGO, United Airlines, and Budweiser, to video art projects with the MoMa, he has collaborated with a host of clients, which have allowed him to take his work down unique and interesting avenues. His drive for filmmaking is evident in his distinctive style, focusing on light and dark, honing in on the idiosyncrasies of the projects he works on. In this interview, we share his experiences in the industry and where it all began…
1. Tell us a bit about your background
I am an Israeli American, I was born and raised in Israel where I studied cinema in high school and went to serve in the army as a cameraman for the Spokesman unit for the IDF. Doing in a way propaganda news for the army was great practice in operating a camera technically and also putting thought to use of angles and what to show (or not to show) in a frame to affect the viewer’s perception of what they are seeing, which, till this day, plays a big roll in my work as I find filmmaking a sort of propaganda, but it is the creator’s (usually directors) propaganda which I like vs. a nation’s propaganda which I like less.
I came to New York when I was 22 (2002) for “one year” to experience the city, I worked as a barista in a coffee shop in the west village, I loved it! I guess it has been 18 years now, and I can honestly say to me, it is indeed the greatest city in the world!
2. How would you describe your cinematography work?
I always strive to bring a point of view to my work, I started out in documentaries where you are expected to be an observer, a fly on the wall. That was the norm in documentaries… After doing a lot of projects like that in my early years, and really honing down that skill of “disappearing” to a degree where your subjects forget that you are there in the room with them and they open up completely, and you can really see truth unfolding in front of your eyes I felt I want to change up the game, I’d like to give a subjective point of view to my angles as if I am shooting a narrative film even though it is a documentary.
I decided to shoot my films using prime lenses vs. a zoom lens which is usually used in documentaries as it helps you reframe quickly as you shoot Verite scenes. I felt that commitment to a prime lens forced me to be proactive with my cinematography, I couldn’t zoom anymore so if I wanted a wide shot I had to run 200 feet away, and if I wanted a close up I had to get within inches from my subject. I always try to think about the scene itself and ask myself, as the author of these pictures, where should the camera be in the space right now so the viewer will get the right feeling, the right point of view. Dealing with these things constantly elevated each and every scene I shoot. I’d say I’m a very proactive shooter, and that my work is always about what is right for the story.
I’m a very proactive shooter, my work is always about what is right for the story
3. In 2016, your advert for Budweiser won YouTube’s Ad Of The Year competition. How do you adapt your style to suit commercial projects?
I have been VERY fortunate to work on many award winning projects so far! It is always a humbling moment to get these honours and I never take the recognition for granted. I would say that I don’t really adapt my style for commercials… echoing what I said before to me it’s all story driven (my stylistic choices) and so, if it needs a bright soft feel I go for that, and if it needs no lighting or existing light type grit then I go for that.
I think my quest is to generate an image that supports the world in which the story is happening, then if I can elevate the subtext of that moment with my use of lighting or composition or my attention to colour well then, it’s a good day, and in my experience it always starts anew with each and every project not necessarily commercial ones or any other type of work…
4. Who would you ideally like to film for?
Ideally, I am working with original, talented people, who are looking to tell interesting and inspiring stories. I love those projects, but I also love smaller narratives, where not a lot happens, so it depends… I want to always make a movie or a spot that will make someone feel something, that will make someone wonder for a minute about an issue, something that can echo. Over the years, I made very strong friendships with directors and producers I work with! I feel that we are all extremely passionate about what we do, and we share that passion and it creates a very special energy on set when we work.
I want to always make a movie or a spot that will make someone feel something, that will make someone wonder for a minute about an issue, something that can echo
5. What advice would you give to aspiring cinematographers?
My main advice would be KEEP AT IT!!! It is a hard business… be ready for a lot of blows, but if you keep doing it again and again and again waking up before sunrise and bring all that energy to do some amazing things today and you keep positive, there’s a good chance you’ll get a break. Then you have to be ready to seize it- that part is as important as getting the actual break! After you’ve delivered be ready to do it again and again and again, that’s the name of the game, it is a lifelong mastery, and until you get that break just keep shooting (or working in whatever capacity you do and shoot on the side) shooting, shooting. Everyday you’re on set you will most likely learn a lesson and many of those days you can give lessons about what not to do, which is crucial.
6. Future plans?
I have young kids, which is why I am mostly doing short form, so I can be present in their lives as they are growing up through these pivotal years. I’d say that when they get to be teenagers who don’t need me around AS MUCH (and it’s coming up fast) my goal is to get into major motion picture films, but I am patient, and it has been an amazing privilege to build my “street cred” in the commercial and documentary feature worlds while being a present loving father to my boys.
This interview was not paid
All photos come from his Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user4400355
You can also find him on Instagram: @bofreund
