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Productions around the world have been shot with Cooke S4/i lenses, but the latest addition to the showreel includes HBO Max’s hugely popular adaptation of The Last of Us PlayStation video game franchise.
With the first series (or part one, as the game’s format suggests) now complete, Cooke Optics has provided a more in-depth behind-the-scenes look at how its S4/i range of spherical prime lenses were the the tool of choice for cinematographer Ksenia Sereda to bring the action of the game to life.
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The last of us The series is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where the world has been overrun by people infected with cordyceps – now in a cannibalistic, zombie-like state, and some much worse than others, known as bloat and clickers. These infected people are quite terrifying both in live action and playing the virtual game (especially when using headphones and sitting in the dark).
The chemistry between lead actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, who play protagonists Joel and Ellie, shows not only in their stellar performances, but also through the technology used by the production.
Cooke’s S4/i series comprises 18 matched focal lengths and is designed to provide maximum performance when used wide open, offering as Cooke describes “superior control” over flare and distortion, as well as spherical aberration.
Glass has been paired with the Arri Alexa Mini – one of best netflix approved cameras (opens in a new tab) – to create the most captivating and intense scenes in the series, and has been used by multiple cinematographers across multiple episodes.
Cinematographer and cinematographer Ksenia Sereda worked closely with Neil Druckmann, the original game writer, on episodes one, two, and eight of the series.
“I wanted to keep the close-ups on the normal side and not go overboard or too far with the lenses because, working from the character’s perspective on the story, we needed to be able to stay close while still preserving the depth of the background “, she said to Cooke (opens in a new tab).
“I also wanted to work in the 25mm-50mm lens range, so the challenge was: what lens wouldn’t distort faces at 25mm; where can I come up with a wide lens on the close-up without being too flirtatious? Cooke S4 /i was an excellent choice for this.”
The series has been praised for its uncanny resemblance to in-game cutscenes and locations, and side-by-side comparisons have been shared by fans showing the attention to detail that went into creating the series.
“I first played the game almost four years ago, and was absolutely mesmerized by how cinematic it looked – I wasn’t ready to see how beautiful it was, the lighting was stunning .
“Of course, there was a lot of pressure to translate the video game language into the TV series because it’s already beautiful and everyone, including almost the entire team, loved the game.”
Have you seen The last of us Again? No spoilers but, in our opinion, it’s a very good adaptation of the game, and much more than your typical zombie storyline, with an intense emotional focus on the characters and their adaptation to a new world. Be sure to watch it on HBO Max in the US, and Sky Atlantic and Now TV in the UK.
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