We are lucky to speak with Megan Berg who is a cinematographer on two films this year: Cupid and Woven Together. We spoke to Megan on her experience at York, inspirations, and diapers.
Q: What are your role on the two films you had part in?
A: I was the Director of Photography for Cupid as well as one of the Cinematographers for Woven Together. Nathan Street, the Director of Woven Together describes his film as “Sex takes many forms. Love takes many forms. A fragmented view of sex, intimacy, connection and love.” Maria DeSanctis, the Director of Cupid, describes her film as “The typical story of boy meets girl, except the boy is a magical figure sent from above.” My initial inspirations for the look of Cupid were the films The Hours and Dear White People. Because the film takes place both in “Heaven” and on Earth I gave the two locales distinct looks so that they were easily distinguishable. My segments of Woven Together were also really different, as were most of the segments done by the rest of the cinematographers on the film. The NFB film Pas De Deux by Norman McLaren inspired the black and white segment.
Q: What was the craziest thing that happened on set?
A: My favorite story was when we were shooting Cupid, our lead actor had to be in a diaper in freezing cold February weather. One time we were setting up the shot and we looked in the window outside and he was jumping and dancing in his diaper getting prepared for the scene.
Q: You’ve graduated. What are you working on? Looking back at York, what has stuck with you?
A: I like working with moving images. I consider myself more of a technician than a filmmaker. I graduated in June, right now I’m shooting some smaller stuff and [Assistant Camera] on some non-union film and television productions in the city. The best thing I did at York was take Phil Hoffman’s Alternative Project class. Phil is the best professor I’ve ever had and an amazing filmmaker and member of the experimental film community. His class teaches you everything from production techniques, to experimental film theory, to processing and tinting film by hand.
Nirris Nagendrarajah, Contributor
Featured image courtesy of AMPD
