SALVADOR (1986)

Director: Oliver Stone

Cinematographer: Robert Richardson, ASC

Crowd Scene

James Woods Scene

TECHNICAL SPECS

Camera: Arriflex 35 BL
Format: 35mm, 1.85:1
Lenses: Zeiss Standard Primes
Film Stock: Kodak 5247 (day), 5294 (night)
Key Innovation: Documentary-style handheld approach

RICHARDSON'S APPROACH

Philosophy: "Create immediacy through documentary techniques"
Signature: Handheld camera work with naturalistic lighting
Innovation: Mixing documentary and narrative visual styles
Style: High-contrast lighting with strong shadows

LIGHTING SETUP

Exteriors: Natural light with minimal augmentation
Interiors: Practical sources with minimal augmentation
Night Scenes: High-contrast lighting with strong shadows
Action Sequences: Handheld camera with natural lighting

VISUAL STRATEGY

Documentary-style handheld camera work for immediacy
Naturalistic lighting with minimal augmentation
High-contrast lighting with strong shadows for dramatic scenes
Mixing documentary and narrative visual styles
Desaturated color palette for war-torn environment

RECREATION NOTES

For documentary-style shots, use handheld camera with minimal stabilization
Use natural light with minimal augmentation for exteriors
For interiors, use practical sources with minimal augmentation
Create high-contrast lighting with strong shadows for dramatic scenes
Employ desaturated color palette for war-torn environment
For action sequences, use handheld camera with natural lighting
Mix documentary and narrative visual styles for contrast