Pixar’s DoP Danielle Feinberg on Balancing Science and Art to Create Wonder

Loved this talk by Pixar’s Cinematographer Danielle Feinberg, a 101 book of the crushed-creativity: wanted to be an artist as kid, was told by adult it was the worse idea ever, decided to become a scientist, and ended up using her creativity full blast. (Because creativity is not limited the arts).

Feinberg explains her journey working at Pixar as DOP and what are the challenges attached to lighting fake worlds to make them real without making them too real.

Here are two of my favorite moments:

“Because in the end we’re not trying to recreate the scientifically correct real world, we’re trying to create a believable world. One the audience can immerse themselves in to experience the story. We use science to create something wonderful. We use story and artistic touch to get us to a place of wonder.”

“We use math, science and code to create these amazing worlds. We use storytelling and art to bring them to life. It’s this interweaving of art and science that elevates the world to a place of wonder, a place with soul, a place we can believe in, a place where the things you imagine can become real — and a world where a girl suddenly realizes not only is she a scientist, but also an artist.“

—-

More about Pixar: