The cinematography behind one of the biggest winners in the 78th Golden Globe Awards was kind of a mystery. Luckily, DP Luke Geissbühler sheds light on the making. It seems that Borat 2 was shot in 72 different camera serial numbers which include ARRI Amiras, Minis, iPhone, and a decent amount of low-end small cameras to grant it the unique mockumentary look. 

Borat 2 has won the Golden Globe for the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

One of the biggest winners of the 78th Golden Globes is “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (Borat 2). The film received three Golden Globe nominations and won for two: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Baron Cohen, and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan[a] (or simply Borat Subsequent Moviefilm or Borat 2) is a 2020 mockumentary comedy film directed by Jason Woliner in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Sacha Baron Cohen as the fictional Kazakhstani journalist and television personality Borat Sagdiyev, and Maria Bakalova as his daughter Tutar, who is to be offered as a bride to Vice President Mike Pence during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election. It is a sequel to 2006’s Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. For now, Borat 2 is the second-most-watched straight-to-streaming title of 2020.

Watch the trailer below:

Shot by Luke Geissbühler

Borat 2 was shot by Luke Geissbühler which is an American cinematographer that is known for his work on Borat, Fahrenheit 11/9, Helvetica, and Netflix’s Abstract: The Art of Design. Luke states that he has always been interested in projects with cultural significance. Sometimes, these kinds of projects demand an unconventional cinematographic approach.

The look was decidedly low-fi and made to mimic our Panasonic 27H from the original movie. The Amira/Minis were our A, B, and C cams. After that, we had a smattering of lesser cameras for hidden, robotic, and low profile applications, even iPhones.

Borat 2 DP Luke Geissbühler

Borat 2 is a valid case study for that, as it was shot on multiple cameras with different forms or types. “We shot Borat 2 on ARRI Amira and ALEXA Mini cameras outputting ProRes 422,” Luke says. “We used dedicated adapters and Canon ENG lenses that give it that particular look. The look was decidedly low-fi and made to mimic our Panasonic 27H from the original movie. The Amira/Minis were our A, B, and C cams. After that, we had a smattering of lesser cameras for hidden, robotic, and low profile applications, even iPhones” he adds. Also Luke says that: “It took 72 different camera serial numbers to make that film”. That’s quite an interesting approach which is the manipulation of high-end cinema cameras to them more low-fi in order to merge their imagery with other low-end cameras.

It took 72 different camera serial numbers to make that film

Borat 2 DP Luke Geissbühler

Initial thoughts

Borat 2 is a reference for a challenging and complex cinematography project, as it involves the utilization of different types and forms of cameras, from high-end cinema to smartphones. Furthermore, as a big mockumentary project, a significant amount of filming took place in an uncontrolled shooting environment, which amplifies, even more, the complexity of assembling the puzzle. 

Note: We’d like to thank Brian Gaffney from CODEX that brought us this unique piece of information. 

Further reading: The Cameras That Shot 78th Golden Globe Awards’ Nominees