The Legendary Rivalry - Tom and Jerry, Shot on Sony VENICE Paired With Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste Lenses
The Legendary Rivalry - Tom and Jerry, Shot on Sony VENICE Paired With Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste Lenses

The Legendary Rivalry – Tom and Jerry, Shot on Sony VENICE Paired With Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste Lenses

2021-02-28
2 mins read

Another modern adaptation of the classic rivalry was shot for the big screen. Directed by Tim Story and shot by Alan Stewart on the Sony VENICE Paired With Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste Lenses. That allows large-format characteristics combined with vintage imagery. 

BTS of  Tom and Jerry. Picture: The movie official Instagram
BTS of Tom and Jerry. Picture: The movie official Instagram

Tom and Jerry 2021

Once again, Tom and Jerry take their cat-and-mouse game to the big screen. The plans for a live-action film were announced in 2009 following the success of Alvin and the Chipmunks. However, principal photography began ten years later in 2019 at Warner Bros Studios in Hertfordshire, England. Luckily, the filming ended before the industry’s shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the post-production crew worked from home. Tom & Jerry was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures in the United States in February 2021, along with a one-month simultaneous streaming release on HBO Max. The film which was directed by Tim Story has grossed $5 million worldwide and received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, who heavily criticized the film’s heavy focus on human characters over Tom and Jerry, though its visual effects were praised.

BTS of Tom and Jerry. Picture: IMDB. Credit: Unknown
BTS of Tom and Jerry. Picture: IMDB. Credit: Unknown

Cinematography: Aimed for the big screen

Tom and Jerry 2021 was shot by cinematographer Alan Stewart (Aladdin) on the Sony VENICE paired with Panavision Primo 70 and Primo Artiste lenses. Sources say that this is the first Tom and Jerry movie to have an IMAX release. However, I couldn’t find any IMAX screening. Nevertheless, the cinematographic tools utilized to shoot this legendary rivalry, are designed for the huge canvas, for instance, the VENICE, which is IMAX certified. Furthermore, the glass behind this film is intriguing even more. The production utilized two types of lenses: the Primo 70 and the Primo Artiste, which both of them have developed by Panavision a few years ago.

Panavision Primo Artiste. Picture: Panavision
Panavision Primo Artiste. Picture: Panavision

Primo 70

The Primo 70 lens was showcased in 2014 and was designed to work with larger sensor digital cameras. The lenses were presented at the 22nd edition of the Camerimage International Film Festival, in twelve focal lengths: 24mm, 27mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 65mm, 80mm, 100mm, 125mm, 150mm, 200mm and 250mm. While the Primo 70s are undeniably sharp, the fall-off from focus is gentle and smooth, with an organic quality to it. There is very little color fringing, coma tails, or distortion.

Panavision Primo 70. Picture: Panavision
Panavision Primo 70. Picture: Panavision

Primo Artiste

The Primo Artiste lenses, which were announced in 2017, are a full series of T/1.8 Prime lenses dedicated for large format cinematography. The essence of the Artiste concept is an innovative configuration that takes advantage of the aesthetic flexibility available within large-format digital sensors, with the resulting look evoking a quality reminiscent of vintage optics, and thus synchronizes and contributes to the good and old imagery of Tom and Jerry.

Panavision Primo Artiste. Picture: Panavision
Panavision Primo Artiste. Picture: Panavision

Check out the trailer below, and let’s know what you think about this modern-vintage look of this cat and mouse big-screen battle:

Get the best of filmmaking!

Subscribe to Y.M.Cinema Magazine to get the latest news and insights on cinematography and filmmaking!

Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition.
Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Get the best of filmmaking!

Subscribe to Y.M.Cinema Magazine to get the latest news and insights on cinematography and filmmaking!

Get the best of filmmaking!

Subscribe to Y.M.Cinema Magazine to get the latest news and insights on cinematography and filmmaking!

‘Army of the Dead’ Trailer Is Out: Shot on RED Monstro by Cinematographer (and Director) Zack Snyder. Photo by Clay Enos/Netflix
Previous Story

‘Army of the Dead’ Trailer Is Out: Shot on RED Monstro by Cinematographer (and Director) Zack Snyder

Amazon Prime Video Says “NO” to Independent Filmmakers
Next Story

Amazon Prime Video Says “NO” to Independent Filmmakers

Latest from Educate

The Advantages of Underwater Drone.

The Advantages of Underwater Drone

In this fascinating case study, the advantages of underwater drones are demonstrated. Wildlife filmmaker Antoine Drancey has been utilizing the Boxfish Luna underwater drone to film the extraordinary stunning deep underwater world.…
Dune Part Two: One More Fascinating Lens

Dune Part Two: One More Fascinating Lens

Continuing our previous article about the tools behind Dune Part Two, we forgot to mention one more important glass, which would be the IronGlass x VLFV MKII rehoused Soviet lenses. This fascinating…
Dune Part Two: Five Interesting Cinematography Facts

Dune Part Two: Five Interesting Cinematography Facts

ARRI Rental, the company that has extensively supported the moviemaking masterpiece, Dune Part Two, released an educating article regarding the cinematography behind the film. We’ve gathered a few interesting facts. Cameras, lenses,…
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Oppenheimer's Cinematographer: “Shoot film! It's much easier than you think”

Oppenheimer’s Cinematographer: “Shoot film! It’s much easier than you think”

As a part of his Oscars 2024 winning speech, Oppenheimer’s cinematographer – Hoyte van Hoytema, advises filmmakers to shoot on film. “It’s much
Sony Publishes the VENICE 2 Training Crash Course

Sony Publishes the VENICE 2 Training Crash Course

Sony Cine has published a crash course that demonstrates the basic operation of the VENICE 2 CineAlta camera. This 14-minute video titled VENICE