Neil Abeynayake
Well-known member
Chef's Table: Legends — Cinematographer Adam Bricker, ASC
I'm posting a page from The American Cinematographer's Clubhouse Discussions series (all credits goes to ASC). This is a well written article and the accompanying video adds more value to the interview and narrative. I always admired Netflix Originals Chef's Table series for its cinematic look, equally engaging story telling skills of the writer/s and excellent directing, and dedication of everyone involved. Producers, Directors and cinematographers treated this project as an episodic feature film series. Throughout the series, the production team used ONLY one camera brand, and that's RED. They started with the RED Epic due to the Netflix resolution mandate and kept using RED all the way to their current choice of the production camera, the RED Raptor series. It is interesting to hear from the DP that initially they used the super 35 format, and they changed to Vista Vision format for their "Legends" series. They used Cook lenses at the beginning and changed to Leitz series of lenses for the look and convenience of having same size primes as a plus. Please add your thoughts, likes or dislikes, so that the REDUser community can learn from our collective experiences and knowledge base. Enjoy.
August 18, 2025
Clubhouse Conversations — Chef's Table: Legends
Editors' note: In-depth coverage of cinematographer Adam Bricker, ASC's work on Chef's Table is featured in American Cinematographer's August 2025 issue. Learn more here about how to subscribe to the industry's leading journal of motion-picture production techniques.
In this episode, cinematographer Adam Bricker, ASC, is joined by interviewer Sam McCurdy, ASC, BSC, to discuss his work on Chef's Table: Legends — a spin-off of the long-running, genre-defining culinary-documentary series that explores the professional and personal lives of renowned international chefs.
Chef's Table has marked its 10th anniversary this year, on the heels of its seventh season in 2024 and its follow-up — the show's fifth spin-off series, Legends — in spring of 2025. Bricker has served as a series cinematographer since the show's inception, and this year was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program, for his work on the Legends episode on chef Jamie Oliver.
In this interview, Bricker discusses how he developed a cinematic visual language that helps reflect the creative intentionality of his chef subjects; his choice of cameras and incorporation of Steadicam moves into his approach; his lighting strategies for activity that unfolds live in the kitchen environment; his balance of slow-motion and real-time footage; the pressures and rewards of telling emotionally honest stories about globally recognized figures, and more.
Adam Bricker, ASC is a cinematographer whose credits include Hacks, American Vandal, The Magicians, Sorry for Your Loss.
Sam McCurdy, ASC, BSC is a cinematographer whose credits include Shōgun, Game of Thrones, Peacemaker, Into the Badlands and Carnival Row.
*** Here is the link to the video of the discussion:
vimeo.com/1110099897
If you are having issues with the ling posted below, simply use the link above this sentence.
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