The cinematography of SQUID GAME 8/18/2022, 12:00:00 AM

From RED Digital Cinema and Netflix. Pics courtesy of Netflix.

Creator-director-writer Hwang Dong-hyuk and cinematographer Lee Hyung-de share in this video some of the particularities of the filming of the series that has triumphed around the world, becoming a social phenomenon.

The series involved a lot of planning and discussion, so Hwang and Lee talked a lot while prepping storyboards and in pre-production meetings. “The story may be a bit dark and gloomy, but [Hwang] told us he wanted the screen to look bright and fresh,” notes Lee. “He seemed to enjoy using contrast and emphasis. For example, starting with a wide shot then following up with a closeup.”

Lee continued, explaining that a crucial element of the planning process was differentiating between the real world and the game world.

“For the game world, it was an environment that embodied a lot of fantasy elements. Even if things got distorted or exaggerated, we created a strong contrast with lighting and created vibrancy with the use of bright primary colors.”

“I thought a lot about the contrast between the beautiful world once seen through the eyes of innocent children and the dark, gloomy world of grown-ups,” Lee told IndieWire. “For the spaces for each game, I tried to think about images that look familiar, but are somehow slightly off-balance and distorted; images that are too bright and clear to the point that they are scary.”

Full lens credits of Squid Game in our credits section. If you want to rent or buy lenses used in this production, you can find them on our rental and marketplace pages!

Extra Ball; SQUID GAME, BTS: