Paula Huidobro – Cinematographer of CODA: “You have to keep at it and eventually it will get better”
CARSON TIMAR: First off thank you for sitting down with me today and congratulations on the success of CODA, which from Sundance to now has seemed to just get bigger and bigger. Unlike spoken language films, Sign Language is physical and has specific requirements when it comes to framing and how you visually view it. From a cinematography standpoint did that have any effect on your process and your logic in how you visually capture the dialogue throughout the film?
PAULA HUIDOBRO: Yea, it was definitely something I had to learn and something to discuss with Sian. I guess it started from blocking the scenes and the communication between her and the actors and then back to us and even to the operators with just being aware of what was being said. With hearing actors they can just say their lines as they are walking away from you or on a close-up but with the deaf/mute community, you have to see their hands and be more head-on.
I know you filmed on location and on unique settings, such as boats, were there any other challenges in filming CODA?
I think the real beauty of the film comes out of being in these places and from capturing this community and the beauty of the nature. It was challenging filming in the boat because it was very small and we had to be safe for the crews and the actors.
One of the most beautiful things I am seeing about CODA is people feeling seen and seeing themselves represented on the big screen, sometimes for the first time. How does it feel for you personally being a direct part of this? You are directly involved in connecting the audience to the film, so what were your emotions going into something like this?
I think it was quite moving seeing the completed film for the first time, because even though I read the script and watched the blocking, you miss out on the subtle things they are communicating and so much of the humor and the love. When I was reading the subtitles it was even better than what I imagined it to be and it was surprising.
This is also not your first collaboration with director Sian Heder, what are your experiences working with her on set?
Its been really incredible working with her. We started working together when we were both young at AFI and have done a bunch of short films when we were starting, and then did Tallulah. We did Little America for Apple, and it has been amazing to grow up together both professionally and as people.
It is great hearing you talk about Little America, both that and CODA were distributed by Apple TV+. What does it feel like to see your work on such a big platform?
Yea, when you are young it feels like it takes forever and that you will never get a chance but you have to keep at it and eventually it gets better. You have to get lucky and keep up.
I wanted to talk about the role of women in DP and in the film industry. Over the past decade, we have seen a major push and celebration of female voices both on and off camera and I was wondering about your experience with that, and if the industry is improving from your perspective?
I think since I started to now, which I know hasn’t been that long, I have definitely seen a change with people being aware and conscious of stereotypes and how they perceive a cinematographer to be a traditionally male role. I think things are changing and people are more open to hiring someone who isn’t how they expected them to look. There is definitely a lot more openness to hearing different perspectives and I think they don’t want to hear the same story over and over again, hopefully.
That is great to hear, and I think that is one thing about CODA that is really beautiful. Seeing this young girl’s dynamic within this family really breaks stereotypes and expectations; did you connect to the character of Ruby or the story in any ways that helped your experience working on the film?
Yeah, definitely. I guess the easiest part for me to connect to was her love for music and the coming of age story with her finding her own voice, feeling when you first find love, and having the courage to find your own destiny. It was also quite emotionally powerful to see her relationship with her family and the warmth with how humorous it was. That is a different experience from what I had growing up but it was quite moving and touching.
Thank you once again for sitting down with me, and I can’t wait to see what you do next!
CODA is now streaming on Apple TV+.
