Bell Pepper Tests: The Secret to a Master Cinematographer's Eye

Cinematographer Ashizawa Akiko discussed her extensive career at a Cannes Film Festival masterclass. Initially aiming to direct, she shifted to cinematography after encountering fellow student Morita Yoshimitsu's talent. Ashizawa found her way into the industry in the early 1970s as an assistant to cinematographer Ito Hideo, embracing his principle of dedicating full energy to every task.

She transitioned to television commercials in the 1980s due to industry barriers for women, returning to features in the 1990s. Her international breakthrough occurred with director Kurosawa Kiyoshi, with whom she made eight features, including "Tokyo Sonata" and "Journey to the Shore." Ashizawa also honored director Harada Masato, reflecting on their collaborative friction that yielded excellent results.

Ashizawa advocated for embracing digital technology's unique capabilities, even pushing camera limits and developing custom LUTs for "Journey to the Shore." She illustrated her unconventional camera testing method using bell peppers, purchased from a local market, finding them more reliable than standard charts for evaluating light.

Discussing international work, she noted differences in expressing fear between Indonesian and Japanese contexts on Edwin's "Sleep No More." Ashizawa observed significant positive changes for women in the film industry since her entry, citing increased female professionals and structural support like daycare facilities.

Concluding the session, Ashizawa expressed a desire to work on a Korean production and hoped cinema could serve as a light in a challenging world. She is the second female cinematographer to receive the Pierre Angénieux Tribute.