Hey Everyone,
My name is Mike Fitzer, and I'm one of the newest moderators in the Stage32 Cinematography lounge. I'm stoked to be here to share a little of what I've learned over the last 25+ years in the industry. Things change daily in our line of work, so I'm doing this to learn from all of you as well!
So, tell me what you're working on? What have you seen lately that has blown you away?
For my part... I've started making shorts again, after a number of years of not doing it. It is a great way to test out new ideas and gather some new material to revamp my reel. I'm actually on set tomorrow morning, filming a hilarious eight-page script about two hunters and one really bad idea. I'll be sure to share some BTS and maybe a lighting breakdown or two.
Until then... Go do great things!
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Congratulations on becoming a Moderator, Michael Fitzer! Welcome to the team! The Mod Squad! I'm rewriting two feature scripts. I'm also working on other projects here and there. The cinematography for one of them is going to be fantastic! I'm caught up on season 7 of Black Mirror, and the cinematography in the series is incredible!
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Welcome, Michael Fitzer! We’re so excited to have you here in the Cinematography Lounge. Your experience and energy are such a great addition to the community. I love that you’re diving back into making shorts: it’s such a fantastic way to experiment, stay sharp, and rediscover the joy of creating on your own terms.
As for recent inspiration, I was blown away by the cinematography in The Pitt. The use of camera movement was incredible. It added so much to the tension and really helped establish the constantly shifting energy of the ER environment. You could tell they didn’t have a ton of space to work with, but the way they maximized it was so intentional. The balance of one-takes, movement vs. stillness, and tight framing around character moments gave such weight to the emotional beats. Every shot felt purposeful, and it really elevated the storytelling in a way that stuck with me.
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Hey Michael Fitzer! Welcome to the Mod Squad! So glad you're with us. Really looking forward to checking out your work. I just finished up a revamped voice acting reel on the advice of a pro so I'm good to go there. Today, I'll get notes back on one of my scripts and will be immediately submitting another one. Trying to get my screenplay portfolio as tight as I can. One of those is actually a short. But again, welcome friend!