I want to treat the food and ingredients in this film in the same way I would a character. We’re running with the idea of real vs. fake, and I want to stay away from shooting the food in a glossy, overly advertorial manner. Instead, I’ll highlight the natural beauty of each object, like dirt falling off the potato or real cheese crumbling into crude morsels when we break into it. Having an onion overly lit will make it look too polished (aka unreal). Something that feels a bit more natural might be backlit or found in-situ. This keeps it in the aesthetic of being real, as well. This isn’t to say we won’t romance the food, but we’ll do it in an organic and artful manner. If Kettle Chips uses only real food ingredients in their crisps, including the seasoning, it’s important we allow the essential elegance of those ingredients to shine as much visually as they do when we taste them.
Shari Albert
Writing Sample
SHARI ALBERT FOOD/CINEMATOGRAPHY