Panavision has published some pictures of a 9-camera array of its DXL2,  used by the crew of “The Little Things” to capture plates for driving sequences. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time a massive array of DXL2 is built. Check it out below. 

The Little Things

The Little Things is a 2021 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, shot by  John Leonard Schwartzman, A.S.C, and produced by Hancock and Mark Johnson. Set in 1990 Los Angeles, the film follows two detectives (Denzel Washington and Rami Malek) who investigate a string of murders. The film was released in the United States on January 29, 2021, by Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, direction, and cinematography. For his performance, Leto received Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Cinematographer John Schwartzman, A.S.C

John Leonard Schwartzman, A.S.C. (born October 18, 1960) is an American cinematographer, best known for his work on Jurassic World, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Rock, and Seabiscuit, for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography. He is best known for his collaborations with directors Michael Bay, John Lee Hancock, Colin Trevorrow, James Foley, and Paul Feig. In an interview, Schwartzman elaborated regarding the methodology implemented when working with Michael Bay on The Rock. The utilization of crazy camera rigs, kinetic and movement is not new to Schwartzman, which told that the sky is no limit when the goal is to maximize the immersiveness of the audience.

9-DXL2 array for driving sequences

Yesterday, Panavision published a couple of pictures presenting a very complex camera rig, made of nine DXL2 cameras. According to Panavision, this 9-camera array used by the crew to capture plates for driving sequences. In my opinion, although this setup is ultra-impressive, it looks like overkill, since it’s a “neo-noir crime thriller” and not an action film par excellence. Furthermore, from BTS footage it seems that “The Little Things” was shot almost entirely on rigs and not handheld. The camera movements are very smooth, delicate, and meticulous. Moreover, as explained, the film was praised for its cinematography, and indeed, it looks polished and precise from that point of view.

Final thoughts

This rig is super cool, no doubt about it. I think this is the first time an array of 9- DXL2 is built. However, it’s hard to think of how this setup was utilized during the shoot, and moreover, why. Perhaps Panavision should release some more educational info about how this setup was implemented on set.