FIGHT CLUB (1999)

Director: David Fincher

Cinematographer: Jeff Cronenweth, ASC

Basement Scene

Window Scene

TECHNICAL SPECS

Camera: Panavision Millennium XL
Format: 35mm, 2.39:1 (anamorphic)
Lenses: Panavision Primo Prime lenses
Film Stock: Kodak Vision 500T 5279
Key Innovation: Underexposed faces (½ to 2 stops)

CRONENWETH'S APPROACH

Philosophy: "Gritty realism with desaturated color palette"
Signature: Underexposed faces with top lighting
Innovation: Recreating ambient fluorescent lighting
Style: Shallow focus (T2.3) with minimal fill light

LIGHTING SETUP

Basement Scenes: Top-light with minimal fill, underexposed faces
Apartment Scenes: Practical sources with green/yellow cast
Office Scenes: Fluorescent top lighting with minimal fill
Night Exteriors: Sodium vapor street lights with blue ambience

VISUAL STRATEGY

Fixed camera positions for objective perspective
Deliberate underexposure of faces (½ to 2 stops)
Desaturated color palette with green/yellow cast
Extensive pre-visualization and storyboarding

RECREATION NOTES

Use top lighting as primary source with minimal fill
Underexpose faces by ½ to 2 stops
Employ shallow focus (T2.3) for selective depth of field
Use practical sources whenever possible
Desaturate color in post-production
Test different film stocks and processes for grimy look