Elena Ternovaja

Caroline Champetier

Filmmaker

French·b. 1954

Known for:

Collaborations with Leos Carax, Jean-Luc Godard, and Philippe Garrel, two-time César winner

Education:

IDHEC (now La Fémis)

Caroline Champetier is a French cinematographer with over 100 films to her credit since 1979. She trained under cinematographer William Lubtchansky for nine years before shooting her first feature, Chantal Akerman's Toute une nuit (1982). Her four decades of work span authorial French cinema and international co-productions, including seven films with Godard and three with Leos Carax. She won the César Award for Best Cinematography twice (for Of Gods and Men in 2011 and Holy Motors in 2013), served as president of the AFC from 2009 to 2012, and received the Berlinale Camera lifetime achievement award in 2023.

Caroline Champetier's Gear List(6)

RED Epic

RED

Connection Source

ShotonwhatWebsite

Connection note

Used on Holy Motors (2012). Champetier noted "excellent restitution of dark colours and skin tone"

Product description

The RED Epic is a digital cinema camera released in 2010 as the first camera in RED's DSMC (Digital Stills and Motion Camera) system. It featured a 5K sensor (later upgradable to the 6K Red Dragon sensor), shooting up to 120 fps at full resolution with up to 18 stops of dynamic range using HDRx mode. Its compact, modular body brought high-resolution digital acquisition to a form factor roughly the size of a DSLR.

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Sony Venice

Sony

Connection Source

ProInterview

Connection note

Primary camera on Annette (2021). Two VENICE bodies shooting 4K X-OCN ST. Dual ISO base essential for nighttime-heavy story

Product description

The Sony Venice is a full-frame (36x24mm) digital cinema camera launched in 2017, capable of capturing up to 6K resolution. It features dual base ISO (500 and 2500), 15 stops of dynamic range, an internal 8-position optical ND filter system, and switchable imager modes for full-frame and Super 35 coverage. Succeeded by the Venice 2 in late 2021.

Aaton Penelope

Aaton

Connection Source

AfcinemaInterview

Connection note

35mm camera on Of Gods and Men. Champetier: "She weighs 7 kg, she is long and her center of gravity is very low"

Product description

French-made 35mm motion picture camera introduced by Aaton in 2008. Field-switchable between 2-perf and 3-perf pulldown, with a PL mount and a weight of 8 kg loaded. It was one of the last 35mm film cameras ever manufactured.

Zeiss Supreme Prime Lenses

Zeiss

Connection Source

Sony CinematographyInterview

Connection note

Spherical primes used on Annette (2021)

Product description

Full-frame cinema primes from Zeiss covering an image circle of 46.2mm, with most focal lengths at T1.5. Feature a 16-blade iris, 300-degree focus rotation, and 95mm common front diameter at an average weight of 1.6kg. Include Zeiss eXtended Data metadata technology for VFX workflows.

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Angenieux 25-250mm HR

Angenieux

Connection Source

ShotonwhatWebsite

Connection note

Used on Holy Motors. Also referenced for Annette grading: "the old Angenieux 25-250 gives heavy blacks"

Product description

The "High Resolution" update to Angenieux's classic 10:1 zoom, introduced in the early 1990s with improved coatings and a faster T3.5 aperture. Added mechanical breathing compensation over the earlier HP version.

Kodak Vision3 250D 5207

Kodak

Connection Source

AfcinemaInterview

Connection note

35mm film stock used on Of Gods and Men. Chosen for fine grain and tonal versatility

Product description

Kodak Vision3 250D 5207 is a medium-speed daylight-balanced (5500K) color negative motion picture film rated at ISO 250. Introduced in 2009 as the second stock in the Vision3 family, it shares the same Dye Layering Technology as the 500T, with low measured granularity and extended highlight latitude. Processed in ECN-2 chemistry.

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