Manfred Guthe, C.S.C.

Manfred Guthe contacted me via e-mail after seeing the earliest version of my unofficial P:TL web site way back in 1996 (before it became LegacyWeb.Com). He kindly allowed me to ask some questions and provided a select list of his work. Thanks Manfred, it was a pleasure!

Manfred Guthe, C.S.C. - Director of Photography for the pilot episode of Poltergeist: The Legacy explaining how to give a show it's "look":

"Defining the look of a show entails deciding what style of photography to use. In this case it meant the creation of lighting effects to give it that Poltergeist feeling, creating mattes (backgrounds) to give us a sense of being in Ireland. I helped decide what all the visual effects would be in the show. For example, the transitions from the Legacy House to the dream sequences where they go outdoors into another world. Or the Mirror scenes where he changes (which by the way were done entirely in camera on the set with no special effects post help). The most difficult thing was to create a lighting design that would be in keeping with the Poltergeist films but different and hopefully more interesting. Also the type of camera movement; crane shots, steadycam, camera rotations etc."

What does a "Director of Photography" do?

"The DP is responsible for creating (in collaboration with the Producers and Director) the look of the show. In other words the images you see when you watch a movie or tv show.This is achieved with lighting and camera movement. He or She is directly in charge of the camera crew, the lighting crew, and the grip crew, and works closely with the heads of all of these other departments, art, hair, makeup, wardrobe, special effects, sound, post production."

What' does the "C.S.C." stand for?

"C.S.C. stands for Canadian Society of Cinematographers."

What would you like everyone to know about your work?

"I will to attach a list of some of my credits." [below]

Do you use film or video? That's something that I've always wondered about: the quality of the picture when watching tv shows. Is it just the lighting or is it "how" they're shot or what?

"I shoot most shows 99% on film 35mm, or 16mm, and a little on Video tape. Most of the shows are shot on film, whereas sitcoms in the most part are shot in Video although there are some that are also shot on film. I thing that some of the difference comes from the fact that sitcoms are shot with multiple cameras and are mostly confined to a few sets."

CREDITS:

(Please note that this list has not been updated since 1997)

MOVIES OF THE WEEK / MINI-SERIES

POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY Trilogy / MGM/UA Studios
(PILOT 1st. Episode) Stuart Gillard / Director

THE AWAKENING Alliance / CBS
(MOW) George Blumefeld / Director

ISLAND FEVER Warner Brothers /
(PILOT) ABC Television
Steve Surjik / Director

******THE POSSESSION OF MICHEAL D.
Atlantis Entertainment /(MOW) Fox Television
Micheal Kennedy / Director

BUTTERBOX BABIES Sullivan Entertainment /
(MOW) CBC Television
Don McBrearty / Director

TO SAVE THE CHILDREN Kushner Locke /
(MOW) CBS Television
Stephen Stern / Director

LUKAS B Sullivan Films / Taurus
(Mini-Series) Films Germany
Allan King / Director

TELEVISION SERIES / SPECIALS / VIDEOS

*NORTH OF SIXTY Alliance Entertainment /
(32 - 1 hr.episodes) Westventures II / CBC

MATRIX U.S.A. Network / Reeves
(13 - 1 hr. episodes) Entertainment / Sunrise Films

**ROAD TO AVONLEA Sullivan Films / Disney
(39 - 1 hr. episodes) Channel / CBC

***CANADA ONE, THE AMERICA'S CUP Dale Hartlaben / Producer

BRYAN ADAMS CPI / Producer
(rock videos for 'Somebody' & 'One Night Love Affair') Steve Surjik / Director

RONNIE HAWKINS Henry Less / Producer
(special) Martin Khan / Director

FEATURES FILMS

THE STUPIDS Savoy Pictures
John Landis / Director

MIDDAY SUN Chris Zimmer / John
Hunter / Producers
Lulu Keating / Director

BUYING TIME Richard Gabourie /
Producer, Mitchell
Gabourie / Director

****TOO OUTRAGEOUS Consequel Films
Dick Benner / Director

ODDBALLS Maurice Smith / Producer
Micklos Lente / Director

CURTAINS Peter Simpson / Producer & Director

THE PIT John Bassett / Producer
Lew Layman / Director

DEADLINE Henry Less / Producer
Mario Azzopardi / Director

*****TWO IS A CROWD Peter Gerretsen Director/Producer

AWARDS

* Nominated Best Cinematography, CSC 1993
** Awarded Best Cinematography, 1990, Awarded Kodak Lifetime achievement Award 1991
***Awarded Best Cinematography, CSC
****Nominated Best Cinematography, CSC 1987
*****Awarded Best Cinematography, NewYork Film Festival
****** Nominated Best Cinematography Gemini Awards 1995

Questions written by Clair aka "Clarianna" (netname). Answers & credits by Manfred Guthe. Copyright © 1996-2002 LegacyWeb.Com