Mr. Wagner, thank you for taking a helpful attitude toward those still trying to break onto the filmmaking scene. I just wanted to let you know that if you are able to make a visit to south Florida, I know many young and eager cinematographers and directors alike that would love to hear what you have to say.
I believe that now is both an exciting and a worrisome time to go into cinematography for many young people, as it seems uncertain exactly when digital will make the celluloid obsolete. I believe that, as you gotten at, that the art, not the technology, is the more important aspect of the craft. However it takes years to gain a true feeling for the film, really understanding how to get what you want out of a different film stocks, lenses, cameras, etc... to learn how to manipulate the light and the lens to get the exact negative you want... you know, to learn the stuff they can't really teach in any book, only through experience. It is difficult to devote yourself to this process, however, knowing that by the time you gain some sort of mastery over it, it may be obsolete. Digital offers many exciting opportunities, but do you think there will always be a need for the traditional and beautiful AgCl exposure we are used to?
As a young filmmaker, the names you read month after month in American Cinematographer take on a larger than life feeling. It's an honor that you would take your time to help those of us eager to learn.
Corey Eisenstein
c.eisenstein@umiami.edu
