Giovanni Ribisi Reveals How He Went from Actor to Cinematographer

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Giovanni Ribisi Reveals How He Went from Actor to Cinematographer

As a fan who has followed Giovanni Ribisi‘s illustrious career for years, I must say that my admiration for him has reached new heights after our recent conversation about his latest project, Strange Darling. This man is not just an accomplished actor; he’s a renaissance artist with a passion for storytelling that transcends the boundaries of the camera lens.

Prior to the premiere of “Strange Darling”, I had a conversation with the multitalented Giovanni Ribisi, who took on the roles of producer, director, and cinematographer for this project. Known for his diverse roles in films such as “Avatar”, “Horizon” (more details about these below), “Lost in Translation”, “Friends”, “Sneaky Pete”, and “Saving Private Ryan”, Ribisi primarily worked behind the camera for this innovative thriller, which was directed by JT Mollner. Contrary to our expectations of seeing him on screen, Ribisi shared with us that he has always harbored an interest in cinematography as well.

As a child, I spent most of my time around cameras and camera crews due to acting, and since around fifteen years ago, my interest in the field grew more serious. Prior to this, I had been working as a cinematographer, albeit behind the scenes. When JT presented this project to me, it only took me 15 minutes to call him up, pleading to be involved.

“During my acting career, I often found myself becoming curious and bothersome to the cinematographers I worked with, constantly asking questions and learning from them. Notably, Andrew Lesnie, who tragically passed away but was renowned for his work as Peter Jackson’s cinematographer on the iconic ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, had a significant impact on me, alongside Dante Spinotti and Reed Morano.”

Watch a Trailer for Strange Darling Below:

“Ribisi mentioned that there’s nothing quite as fulfilling as grabbing a camera and constantly snapping shots, always having it with you. He considers this project, his work in Strange Darling, to be the most significant thing he’s accomplished so far. Before collaborating with JT, he felt an intense need to do this, like it was a necessity.”

Ribisi Updates Us on the Future of Horizon and Avatar

It’s not implied that Ribisi hasn’t been active in front of the camera either; quite the contrary, he’s notably appeared in some of the most awe-inspiring film series ever made. One such example is “Horizon,” where Ribisi makes a fleeting appearance at the end of Chapter 1 during the exhilarating sneak peek of what lies ahead in the sequels. Expressing his admiration for Kevin Costner and the journey he’s taken to reach this point in his career, creating these movies, Ribisi shared with us a hint of what’s to come:

As someone who has spent decades immersed in the world of literature, I can confidently say that the duo has been penning these works for a staggering thirty-seven years. Four cinematic adaptations have emerged from their collaboration, and the next chapter, or movie, is set to be filmed sometime next year. Although my role is minor, my character makes a return in the third and fourth installments of this epic saga. It’s an honor to be part of such a long-running project, and I eagerly await the opportunity to bring these stories to life on the big screen once more.

Of course, there’s also the movie Avatar, where Ribisi played a significant part in James Cameron’s Oscar-winning initial release back in 2009. He recently mentioned, “Just a couple months ago, we were working on the third one. It struck us then, ‘Wow, we’ve been creating these films for nearly 18 years‘ or so. To witness people’s lives change, have families, and everything else that comes with it is truly amazing. We’re just grateful to be a part of something that has become such an integral part of our lives.”

As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that “Strange Darling,” a film from Miramax, is now gracing the big screens near you! Dive into our comprehensive chat with Michael Ribisi and director JT Mollner in the video below:

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2024-08-25 04:01