With 36 feature films since 2008 (not to mention numerous shorts, mini-series, and TV movies), it’s safe to say that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been something of a cultural force for the past decade-and-a-half. The downside, however, of such a successful run is that there is increasing risk of the product becoming stale. Thunderbolts*, in turn, is something of a departure and a refresh for Marvel Studios’ brand of superhero films, centering around a group of anti-heroes—painting them in slightly darker tones, dealing with heavier subject matter, and eschewing some of the VFX-heavy style of earlier films in favor of a more grounded aesthetic.
To talk about balancing these new elements against the tried-and-true Marvel formula, Camera Operator spoke with Thunderbolts* A camera operator Paul Sanchez and B camera and Steadicam operator Matthew A. Petrosky, SOC.
After being “blipped” back from oblivion only to discover that her sister—Avenger Black Widow—died in the intervening five years, former assassin Yelena Belova finds herself understandably questioning her place in the universe. Sure, she still takes odd jobs from Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the shady director of the CIA currently under investigation by the U.S. Congress, but her heart just isn’t really in it. She ultimately agrees to “one last job” that ends with her trapped in an incinerator with Valentina’s other loose ends, including the disgraced ex-Captain America and some guy named Bob. Together, this ragtag group has to work together to survive, take down Valentina, and maybe do some good in the process. Thunderbolts* is directed by Jake Schreier from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo and stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
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David Daut 