Director Rian Johnson's work has spanned a number of genres, including his subversive Star Wars movie The Last Jedi and TV procedural Poker Face (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription). But in recent years he's perhaps most synonymous with the Knives Out franchise. His third installment Wake Up Dead Man recently arrived on streaming for those with a Netflix subscription, and has a distinct tone and visual language from its predecessors. And cinematographer Steve Yedlin spoke to CinemaBlend about how he accomplished those recurring church door shots throughout the movie.
Yedlin has worked with Rian Johnson for years, going back to their high school days. He's usually the cinematographer for Johnson's films, including all three of the Knives Out movies. I had the privilege of speaking with him ahead of Wake Up Dead Man's release, where I asked about a shot thats repeated throughout its runtime. Namely the Church's lack of a crucifix, followed by opening doors and the silhouette of various characters. He cued me into the creative process, saying:
