As a long-time fan of Ridley Scott’s work and someone who has followed his career closely, I must say that the recent miscommunication between him and John Mathieson over the latter’s comments about the industry feeling “lazy” was quite unfortunate. It’s always disheartening to see such misunderstandings happen, especially when they can have far-reaching consequences.
Regarding “Gladiator II,” it’s been generating buzz in movie news for 2024, but not all the headlines are positive. For instance, there was a story about cinematographer John Mathieson reportedly labeling director Ridley Scott as “lazy” and claiming that Scott hurried the making of his recent films. However, it appears these comments were somewhat misconstrued. They originated from a 30-minute excerpt of a two-hour interview; and the cinematographer for the sequel has since cleared up the misunderstanding about what was actually said.
After the initial controversy, Deadline interviewed John Matheison in a subsequent discussion based on Nigel Levy’s interview for The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast. Following the ensuing media uproar about the alleged jabs involved, both subject and host explained how this miscommunication occurred. Here’s what Matheison stated:
The piece was about me. I was talking about the downside of the digital age. We have to do more. We have to get more shots, we have to shoot more every day, and we have to light and think of many cameras at the same time. And I said, you ask any DP that they don’t really like doing that. And we talked about that and I said that people just come in the morning, switch the coffee machine on, switch the cameras on, say, what are we doing? Because the digital stuff doesn’t cost anything, but so you shoot a lot. And I saying that is that, and I said, this was the quote. I said, the industry, it’s really lazy.
Similarly, Nigel Levy confirmed their conversation with the seasoned cinematographer encompassed diverse aspects of film production. Furthermore, he disclosed that his team condensed their two-hour discussion into a 30-minute segment, highlighting what they thought would be most engaging for their audience.
Listening to his podcast episode, I couldn’t help but notice the significant abbreviation of the talk John Mathieson had given to Nigel Levy. It seemed to me that some of the quotes were rearranged and crucial parts deleted, which would have enriched the sentiment he was trying to convey.
Which turned his upset with the industry into something that sounded like it was aimed at the same director Denzel Washington thinks is owed an Academy Award. And quotes like that are naturally going to light up the mediasphere with the right reporting. Much like thoughts on Gladiator II’s ending, this more severe instance is something everyone is bound to talk about.
In the making of the film “Gladiator II”, its director managed to generate such widespread attention with his own statements, similar to how Ridley Scott faced scrutiny over his casting choices for the movie “Exodus: Gods and Kings”. Notably, this stir caused by Scott’s comments was due to an unfortunate edit that misrepresented his intentions. As a result, John Mathieson felt compelled to clarify the situation directly with Ridley Scott himself.
When I exclaimed, “Looks like I’ve run into a snag,” he replied with an exasperated, “Oh my goodness, what in the world happened? You need to be more cautious.” I acknowledged, “I realize that. It’s just, this unexpected turn of events landed me here, and it’s quite humiliating and painful.
Occasionally, misquotes occur, as seen when Benedict Cumberbatch’s response to CBS’s Elementary was misunderstood. What’s significant in such situations is the correction that arises from the confusion, and how the facts are eventually clarified. John Mathieson and Nigel Levy have openly shared their perspectives, and we’ll observe how the truth spreads throughout the channels that previously amplified the falsehood.
The sequel to “Gladiator,” titled “Gladiator II,” is currently battling it out in cinemas, meaning you haven’t missed the opportunity to witness the magnificent Rome-inspired work of Sir Ridley Scott and John Mathieson. If, however, you yearn for a nostalgic trip back to the days of Maximus, portrayed by Russell Crowe, then log into your Paramount+ account as soon as possible and stream the original “Gladiator” for an unforgettable experience.
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2024-11-30 18:37