In following up his 2011 book, Conversations with Cinematographers (Scarecrow Press), David A. Ellis presents his recently released In Conversation with Cinematographers (Rowman & Littlefield ISBN: 978-4422-5109-0; ebook: 978-14422-5110-6) which furthers the discussion with other practitioners of the often ignored trade. This collection of interviews with 21 cinematographers and camera operators, who have worked with Danny Boyle, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Lasse Hallstrom, David Lynch, and Steven Spielberg, includes talks with Brian Tufano (Trainspotting, Billy Elliot, The Evacuees), Seamus McGarvey (High Fidelity, Atonement, The Hours), and Peter MacDonald (Excalibur, Hamburger Hill, Rambo 3).
“While my first volume mainly contains interviews with retired cinematographers, the new book consists of people still at work,” Ellis said. “I wanted to get the voice of the cinematographer recorded because a lot of the behind-the-scenes people aren’t, so a lot of interesting film history is lost. Some cinematographers have written their autobiographies, but many have not. I feel there is a market for their tales behind the camera, not just technical details.”
“To follow this book, I am hoping in the future to do one on actors and directors. For now, I am working on a commissioned book on the history of cinemas and theatres in Chester (UK).”
David A. Ellis has written for a number of magazines and newspapers and regularly contributes to The British Cinematographer magazine in addition to Film International.