Cinematographers Todd Banhazl and Mihai Malaimare Jr. go one-on-one to recount their experiences shooting the first season of HBO’s Winning Time.
The HBO original series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty re-creates the Los Angeles Lakers’ historic climb to prominence over the rest of the NBA, with Season 1 focusing on the team’s 1979-’80 championship season. The fast-break drama series goes back in time to chronicle the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties.
Based on Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers, and executive produced by Adam McKay (Succession, Q: Into the Storm), the show takes a look at a team that defined its era, both on and off the court. The ensemble cast includes: John C. Reilly, Jason Clarke, Adrien Brody, Quincy Isaiah, Sally Field, and Jason Segel, among many others.
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The series’ kaleidoscopic mix of formats was established in the pilot episode, directed by Adam McKay and shot by Todd Banhazl, the latter of whom went on to photograph episodes 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10, with Mihai Malaimare Jr. joining the team to shoot the remaining episodes.
The two cinematographers sat down together at Panavision to break down their game plan for realizing the show’s signature style.
Enjoy their Behind the Scenes:
