Alice Brooks, ASC is the visionary Cinematographer behind Wicked and many other great works.
From her early love of musicals to the art of lighting, composition, and collaboration, Alice shares how she uses cinematography to shape emotion and storytelling.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro & Welcome
01:30 - Alice’s Early Love for Musicals & Storytelling
03:00 - Growing Up with Artist Parents & Watching Live Theater
04:30 - Learning to Read Early to Watch Movies with Her Father
06:00 - Growing Up in a Creative Family & Discovering Cinematography
07:30 - Acting as a Child & Getting Exposure to Film Sets
09:00 - Watching Cinematographers Work & Realizing That’s What She Wanted to Do
10:30 - The Moment Alice Told Her Mom She Wanted to Be a Cinematographer
12:00 - Transitioning from Child Actor to Cinematographer
14:00 - How Acting Helped Her Understand Camera Work & Performance
16:00 - The Power of Visual Storytelling Over Performance
18:00 - Collaborating with Jon M. Chu on Wicked & Other Films
20:00 - How Alice & Jon Built Trust Over the Years
22:00 - Breaking Down a Script by Emotion Before Planning Cinematography
24:00 - How Lighting Shapes Emotion in Storytelling
26:00 - Why Alice Thinks of Light as an Emotional Language
28:00 - Assigning Single-Word Emotions to Every Scene in a Film
30:00 - Designing the Color & Light for Wicked
32:00 - The 18-Week Process of Testing Colors for Wicked
34:00 - How Wicked Was Designed Like a Modern Technicolor Film
36:00 - How They Used 6,000 Lights to Build the World of Oz
38:00 - The Process of Lighting the Yellow Brick Road
40:00 - The Role of Shadows & Silhouettes in the Film’s Look
42:00 - The Emotional Impact of Cinematic Framing & Composition
44:00 - Choosing Camera Angles to Reflect Character Growth
46:00 - The Key Moments Where Wicked Breaks the Fourth Wall
48:00 - Balancing Practical Effects with VFX & CGI
50:00 - The Importance of Tactile Realism in a VFX-Heavy Film
52:00 - Creating a Seamless Blend Between CGI & Practical Sets
54:00 - The Importance of Restraint in Cinematography
56:00 - Why Holding on a Still Shot Can Be More Powerful Than a Camera Move
58:00 - The Use of Long Takes & When to Let a Scene Breathe
1:00:00 - How Alice Balances Leadership & Creativity on Set
1:02:00 - Managing a Crew for 155 Shooting Days
1:04:00 - Hosting Weekly “Movie Club” for the Crew to Build Trust
1:06:00 - Why Collaboration Is the Heart of Filmmaking
1:08:00 - The Personal & Emotional Challenges of Large-Scale Filmmaking
1:10:00 - The Pressure of Working on a High-Profile Musical
1:12:00 - How Alice Stays Grounded During Intense Productions
1:15:00 - Advice for Aspiring Cinematographers & Filmmakers
1:16:30 - Why There’s No Such Thing as a “Perfect Frame” in Cinematography
1:18:00 - Why Taking Risks Is Essential for Filmmakers
1:20:00 - Final Reflections on the Power of Storytelling
1:22:00 - The Personal Meaning Behind Defying Gravity & Alice’s Own Journey
1:24:00 - “Close Your Eyes and Leap” – Why That Phrase Defines Her Career
