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Black Bag film image; man standing in front of London parliament buildings

Motivated Lighting #4: Black Bag

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In the last of his studies in the evolution of cinematography, Devan Scott brings us right up to date with a survey of the modern era of digital photography and LED lighting, focusing in particular on the radical work of Steven Soderbergh, who regularly serves as his own cinematographer under the pseudonym Peter Andrews. After the talk, we will watch Soderbergh’s ingenious 2025 thriller, Black Bag, starring Pierce Brosnan, Cate Blanchett, and Michael Fassbender.

Presenter

Devan Scott

Director

Steven Soderbergh

Cast

Pierce Brosnan, Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Tom Burke, Marisa Abela

Credits
Country of Origin

USA

Year

2025

Language

English

19+
153 min

Book Tickets

Thursday May 28

11:00 am
Guests/Q&As Hearing Assistance
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Credits

Executive Producer

David Koepp

Producer

Casey Silver, Gregory Jacobs

Co-Producer

AJ Riach, Corey Bayes

Screenwriter

David Koepp

Original Music

David Holmes

Production Design

Philip Messina

Also in This Series

Film Studies: Motivated Lighting examines the evolution of lighting in cinema, from the early 1900s to present day.

The Doll
The Doll film image; woman leaning against a seated man

The Doll

Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
130 min

In our new Film Studies series on Thursdays, Devan Scott guides us through the evolution of lighting techniques from the silent era to the present day. Each presentation will include a classic film screening; this week, The Doll (1919).

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Grapes of Wrath

Dir. John Ford
189 min

In this Film Studies workshop, Devan Scott explores the purposes of three-point lighting and the influence of German Expressionism on Hollywood studio filmmaking. Followed by a screening of The Grapes of Wrath, photographed by Gregg Toland.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Music Room

Dir. Satyajit Ray
159 min

Devan Scott continues his journey through the history of lighting. This week, he credits Indian director of photography Subrata Mitra for profound innovations that laid the foundation for ideas of motivated lighting + screening of The Music Room.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Black Bag

Dir. Steven Soderbergh
153 min

In the last of his studies in the evolution of cinematography, Devan Scott surveys the modern era of digital photography and LED lighting, focusing in particular on the radical work of Steven Soderbergh, who regularly serves as his own cinematographer.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema