DANTE SPINOTTI - Cinematographer

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

Tv & Film, Filmlighting, Deakins, Movies, Filmmaking, Production, Film, Cinematography, Film Interviews

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2025

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 162 - Dante Spinotti - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer Dante Spinotti (ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, HEAT, THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER). During our conversation, Dante reflects on his Italian upbringing and on the formative year he spent shooting photographs in Nairobi, Kenya. Dante has also frequently shot films with director Michael Mann, and he shares a number of stories from their years of working together. While best-known for his work in Hollywood, Dante still found time to shoot films in his native country, and we specifically discuss his experiences working with director Ermanno Olmi on THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER. Dante has also survived the Marvel movie machine, and he reflects on the changes in technology and filmmakers’ approach to filmmaking that he’s witnessed over the course of his career. We also discuss his experiences transitioning to using digital cameras, and we reflect on the value of discipline and preparation—no matter your shooting format.

This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm & Aputure

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to season two of the Team Deacons podcast, a collection of informal conversations between Roger and James Deacons and a guest.
0:13.7	We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes.
0:21.4	This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm, the Technodali specialist now based at Ealing Studios in London.
0:30.8	The Technodali is a fully repeatable camera crane and motion control in one, allowing cinematographers to hand craft a shot,
0:39.6	and then repeat it instantly and frame accurately for visual effects.
0:45.2	Find them on Instagram and YouTube at Sandstorm underscore films.
0:54.1	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm. films.
1:02.3	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT52, the industry's most powerful LED point source light.
1:04.8	Brighter than a 6K HMI empowered by Aperture's revolutionary Blair light engine,
1:14.9	the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable white light and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED.
1:19.4	Storm XT-52, unrivaled output, only from Aperture.
1:28.0	Today we're speaking with the cinematographer.
1:31.2	His credits include The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, and L.A. Confidential.
1:36.8	We're pleased to welcome Dante Spenotti.
1:40.0	Dante, thank you for doing this.
1:42.4	Hi. It's a honor to be with you guys.
1:46.0	We're going to start with our first question, which is, how did you get to where you are today?
1:50.3	Is this something you always knew you wanted to do?
1:52.8	Or did you take another path first and find it later in life?
1:57.1	And where did you grow up?
1:59.4	What's your story? The story is kind of interesting, I have to say,
2:04.6	because it's very unusual. I mean, the story starts with classic studies in high schools
	...

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