CÉSAR CHARLONE - Cinematographer

CÉSAR CHARLONE - Cinematographer

Author: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins December 31, 2025 Duration: 1:04:24

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 174 - César Charlone - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer César Charlone (PARTIDO, BLINDNESS, CITY OF GOD). Born in Uruguay, César found filmmaking after interrupting his veterinarian studies to hitchhike across Brazil. Throughout our conversation, we discuss César's general approach to cinematography, the degree of work he does in post, the amount of prep he performs before every film, and his long-time professional partnership with director Fernando Meirelles. César also reveals how he first met Fernando and describes how they worked together to create the look of CITY OF GOD and shoot the complex film with young non-actors. We later discuss how much César adjusts the image after capturing it on set, and we reflect on using any technology available to make the best film possible. In addition to his work as a cinematographer, César also co-directed THE POPE'S TOILET, and we discuss how he got involved with the project and the reality that inspired the film's story. César has also directed a film about Uruguay's José Artigas and worked on a documentary following Brazil's current Minister of Finance Fernando Haddad, and we discuss his commitment to documenting the realities of living in South America.

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This episode is sponsored by Aputure


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who have spent a lifetime in film just start talking, following a thread wherever it leads. That’s the heart of Team Deakins. Roger Deakins, the Oscar-winning cinematographer, and his longtime collaborator and wife, James Ellis Deakins, sit down to unpack questions sent in by listeners, which means every episode begins with a specific point of curiosity-a technical detail, a business dilemma, a philosophical query about storytelling-and unfolds from there. You’ll hear them dig into the craft of cinematography, dissect the realities of the film and television industry, and share stories from their own remarkable journey. The discussion is meandering, insightful, and grounded in decades of practical experience. While it’s primarily their dialogue, they are occasionally joined by guests from across the film world, adding new dimensions to the talk. This isn’t a formal lecture series; it’s an accessible, ongoing dialogue between experts who love what they do. For anyone fascinated by how movies are made, from the lighting of a scene to the navigating of a career, this podcast offers a rare, unfiltered look behind the curtain. The entire project feels like a natural extension of their shared life in art, making each episode a unique and personal listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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