JAMES LAXTON - Cinematographer

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

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

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2025

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 167 - James Laxton - Cinematographer

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with cinematographer James Laxton (THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT). If you've seen a film directed by Barry Jenkins (Season 2, Episode 156), then you've seen James' work. Throughout much of the episode, we discuss his longstanding collaborative relationship with Barry, but we also learn how James tries to fit into the visions of the other directors he's worked with. The three of us share a love for preparation, and we learn how James' prep process has evolved and also stayed the same in both his work with Barry and with other filmmakers. James later reveals his perspective on executing the sweeping camera move in the diner in the final act of MOONLIGHT, and we discuss his work using colour in ANYTHING. We also compare our experiences working in animation, and James reflects on being a terrible assistant camera in his salad years.

Recommended Viewing: ANYTHING, MOONLIGHT, MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY

This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Sandstorm

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to Season 2 of the Team Deacons podcast,
0:07.0	a collection of informal conversations between Roger and James Deacons and a guest.
0:13.0	We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes.
0:21.9	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT-52, the industry's most
0:29.5	powerful LED point source light. Brighter than a 6K HMI and powered by Aperture's revolutionary
0:36.8	Blair light engine, the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable
0:41.9	white light and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED. Storm XT-52, unrivaled output, only from
0:52.2	aperture.
1:04.1	This episode is sponsored by Sandstorm, the Technodali specialist now based at Ealing Studios in London.
1:13.8	The Technodali is a fully repeatable camera crane and motion control in one, allowing cinematographers to hand craft a shot and then repeat it instantly and frame accurately for visual effects. Find them on Instagram and
1:21.0	YouTube at Sandstorm underscore films.
1:30.3	Today we're speaking to a cinematographer.
1:32.8	Among his credits are Moonlight,
1:34.5	if Beale Street could talk,
1:37.0	and Mufasa, the Lion King.
1:39.8	We're pleased to welcome James Laxton.
1:42.0	James, thank you for doing this.
1:43.4	Well, thank you both very, very much.
1:44.5	It's an honor to be here. I really appreciate it.
1:45.5	So we want to start with the question that only you can answer,
1:50.0	which is how did you get to where you are today?
1:53.0	Did you always want to be a cinematographer?
	...

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