For the VIP Casino spot, Director Tamas Gacs had a clear vision: the timeless flair of classic film noir. With a stunning set from Production Designer Pater Sparrow, our goal was to deliver this sophisticated look through a series of deliberate, conscious choices.
A synthesis of classic and modern
My solution was a synthesis of classic and modern techniques. To get an authentic feel, I chose to light the project almost exclusively with traditional Tungsten Fresnel lights.
This not only provided the authentic look of classic Hollywood, but was also a much more budget-friendly choice over modern HMIs or LEDs.
The camera and lens decision
As for the camera, we made another specific choice. We knew the ARRI Alexa LF sensor would be too sharp for a vintage feel, but the classic ARRI Alexa Mini would be too soft.
We intentionally paired the LF with the Master Anamorphics, fully aware they wouldn't cover the sensor. This allowed for a cropped format workflow — a brilliant suggestion from my 1st AC, Krisztian Galanics — which gave the final image a unique, softer texture that was the perfect middle ground.
Engineering the look before the shoot day
To guarantee this specific look, our pre-production was meticulous. The director and I shot stills on location during the pre-light, which I graded in Lightroom to establish the feel.
I then sent these to our colorist, Laszlo Gaal, who built a custom B&W LUT. This meant on the shoot day, the entire team and client could see a close representation of the final look on the monitors.
This eliminated all guesswork on set and, because the foundations were already there, it also led to a much shorter final color grade.
The result is a testament to a great team and a workflow built on conscious, creative choices — delivering a timeless aesthetic within a perfectly smooth, one-day shoot.
A huge thanks to the entire team for trusting this process. It's always a pleasure to collaborate with creatives who value meticulous preparation.