How David Fincher Hijacks Your Eyes

[Dr.HouseMD]

I worked for David on House of Cards. MANY MANY MANY takes. He's not just obsessed with movement. He's obsessed with EVERYTHING in the frame. We were working in the Russo's Office set for 45 minutes getting everything right after rehearsing a scene with Cory. David enters. Room gets quiet. We were sure we had everything perfect. He says: "the desk is off by 1.5 inches." Sec decorator pulls his tape saying, "i just leveled the desk---oh. It is. 1.25 inches off." David goes "Great. Let's fucking shoot this." And walks to video village. Working for him is like being in film industry bootcamp, but it honestly holds you accountable for the quality of your work. If you're bad--he'll probably embarrass you a little. But when he says "I like this. Do this more." It validates all the hours of sleep you've missed while working 18 hour days.

[PaulRamen]

One thing that is not said in this video is that Fincher shoots 6 or 8K but only uses 4K.
So what is shown in the final film is only a part of the frame actually recorded.
Which then allows him to adjusts pans, tilts and camera stabilization a lot more than if he didn't have all that wiggle room.

[parasadhikari]

I started the video, stopped at 0:50 went and watched the entire Season one of Mindhunter series then came back and resumed from there.

[EezhamDemon]

This is one of your best video essays yet.

[brockbrockwell]

Fincher is, essentially, using the camera as a spotlight...

[hsgis]

It's a crime Fincher hasn't got an Oscar

[BreakingBanter]

Haven't had one of your videos fuck my shit up this bad in ages. Love learning that much in 5 minutes, incredible video 👍

[xDressedKill]

you explained PERFECTLY what i feel whenever i watch his work. he puts you in a trance.

[deeshmond]

Fincher is a genius. I could re-watch his movies more than any other filmmaker. They’re so magnetic and engrossing, especially when he collaborates with Trent Reznor.

[FiniteAtticus]

Now that I’ve seen it. I cannot unsee it.

[davidm.johnston]

If you kept those things to yourself, you would have such an edge over all of us aspiring to work in the film industry. But instead you chose to share them, and did so very well. For that I say thanks, and congrats for one more eye opening video. And please keep sharing, that's always the best thing to do!

[gpturismo]

Instead of his camera capturing an image for your eyes, it becomes your eyes. It causes deeper immersion and pulls us closer to the characters by making it personal versus us watching an event.

[inceant]

its really cool you went out of your way to reconstruct the techniques you are breaking down.

[xproofx]

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

[thefilmpoets]

We call this motivated movement, and try to do it filming live events like a wedding. When you're locked in with the person on camera it can be pretty fun, like a dance. And it's almost as if their body is moving yours and you're no longer in control.

[Beforethecredits]

Fincher is easily my favorite living director.

[busywl]

he could make a 90 minute movie about mowing your lawn incredible to view.

[sonnybrown]

I noticed it long ago in 7 when Brad Pitt finds the head in the box and goes through all of his emotions pointing the gun at Kevin Spacey. The camera moves with him in such a way it's like he wants to hide everything because he's so uncomfortable but the camera won't let him. Almost like the camera makes him shoot.

[TalkAsSoftAsChalk]

Mindhunter is incredible! Not that I expected any less of Fincher.

[rafailzintro]

I'm so glad to have discovered this channel