Netflix original ‘Mank’ is a love letter to old Hollywood glamour and pays homage to one of cinema’s most iconic film’s signature look.

Focus and depth of field play an incredibly important role in the cinematography and we are excited for you to see how DP Erik Messerschmidt ASC utilised the Cinefade VariND to help craft the look.

Watch the trailer below and if you are not currently in lockdown, Mank is in cinemas now. If you are in lockdown, you will have to wait until 4th December for the Netflix release.

Watch the trailer

The original cinematographer for ‘Citizen Kane’, Gregg Toland, “is incredibly influential,” said Messerschmidt in a Variety article. “Obviously we looked at ‘Citizen Kane’ and looked at his work.” ‘Mank’ pays homage to his signature techniques – “deep focus, relatively low camera angles, limited focal length,” said Messerschmidt. “We limited ourselves to just a few lenses.” 

We’re excited to see how the Cinefade VariND helped Erik craft the specific look of the time period, especially after he revealed the following:

"The Cinefade lived on the camera.

Wait until you see what we did with it!"

- DP Erik Messerschmidt ASC

To find out more about the Cinefade VariND and to hire and buy the system visit www.cinefade.com and get in touch with the inventor Oliver Janesh Christiansen for any questions you may have.