Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
You’ve known Reed Morano a lot longer than you realize; the cinematographer-turned-director is responsible for the stunning visuals of flicks like Frozen River, Shut Up and Play the Hits, Kill Your Darlings, The Skeleton Twins, and shows like Looking and Vinyl, not to mention the gorgeous “Sandcastles” portion of Beyoncé‘s Lemonade. She made her directorial debut in 2015 with the Luke Wilson and Olivia Wilde-starring Meadowland, a drama following a couple during the aftermath of an unthinkable loss. The visceral, haunting film proved that Morano was capable of more than making a film look good; she had the chops to ensure that a film would actually be good.
After Meadowland, Morano directed episodes of Halt and Catch Fire and Billions, but her talent for pulling performances out of actors on television was not truly put on display until The Handmaid’s Tale, the highly anticipated original series from Hulu based on Margaret Atwood‘s famous novel. Morano acts as director for the first three episodes of the series, and the show is a harrowing, relevant triumph. The Handmaid’s Tale is a stunning representation of Morano’s work, and to appreciate it further, it’s important to have an understanding of her most prominent past projects. These are the highlights of Morano’s illustrious career thus far:
Frozen River
Morano gained attention for her work as Director of Photography on Frozen River in 2008. While she had shot several shorts, a television series, and smaller projects, Frozen River marked her first prominent collaboration with an A-list star (Melissa Leo) and work on a project with Oscar attention. Despite the film’s low budget, Morano found a way to make the film feel both intimate and incredibly cinematic. This indie success put her on the map and demonstrated what she was capable of with limited resources.
Shut Up and Play the Hits
LCD Soundsystem’s farewell concert (well, more like a “see you later” now) at Madison Square Garden was documented in Shut Up and Play the Hits along with frontman James Murphy’s emotional journey as he came to terms with the decision to retire the band. Morano managed to shoot the documentary with a narrative flair that made even the most mundane moments (like Murphy walking his dog) engaging and beautiful. Her use of different lenses for the quiet moments and concert scenes really diversified the range of emotions felt in the film and allowed it to be a stand-out music documentary.
Where to Stream Shut Up and Play the Hits
Kill Your Darlings
By the time Morano boarded beat-poet flick Kill Your Darlings, she was steadily becoming one of the most sought-after cinematographers in the industry. Her choices of tones and colors to emulate the period of the piece (set in 1943) and use of film gave Kill Your Darlings an artful authenticity impossible to turn away from. Morano desaturated colors within each scene and brought forward colors like red, green, and blue, and the camera movement gave the story a romantic, dramatic feel. Once again, Morano demonstrated she could do a hell of a lot without a ton of cash and resources at her disposal.
Where to Stream Kill Your Darlings
The Skeleton Twins
After premiering at Sundance Film Festival, this honest, darkly funny depiction of estranged twins who reunite after Milo (Bill Hader) attempts suicide was aided in its storytelling by the emotion-driven camerawork. Morano’s nuanced understanding of representing characters’ inner turmoil in their surroundings allowed the film to come alive, and the underwater sequences in the film were shot beautifully. Her use of mirrored shots to connect the siblings truly makes The Skeleton Twins a feat in visual storytelling.
Where to Stream The Skeleton Twins
HBO Series (Looking, Vinyl, Divorce)
You can say a lot of things about HBO’s Vinyl, but you sure can’t say it wasn’t pretty. While the show was certainly short-lived, the cinematography was gorgeous. Morano had already demonstrated that she was capable of shooting live music events with Shut Up and Play the Hits, and these skills served those sequences on Vinyl incredibly well. Looking benefited from Morano’s sense of intimacy when it came to shooting love scenes, and she was able to shoot every episode of the series with creative freedom from HBO. The use of naturalistic lighting and handheld camerawork allowed the show to be up close and personal, and the cooler tones she utilized gave it a unique look. Last year, Morano acted as cinematographer for the pilot of the Sarah Jessica Parker-starring Divorce, once again demonstrating her talent for effectively depicting real people in emotional situations. Her collaborations with HBO are the gift that keep on giving, and hopefully there’s more ahead.
Meadowland
Morano’s directorial debut starring Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson had its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and floored audiences with its raw, emotional tone and harrowing tale of a couple whose son is abducted and the way they unravel in the aftermath of his loss. She pulled her first round of double-duty on this stunning project; the use of handheld gave it a closeness that was almost too much for comfort as Wilde and Wilson delivered career-best performances under Morano’s honest direction. Meadowland truly exists as a showcase for the breathtaking work in multiple arenas that Morano is capable of.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Morano truly shines in her latest work, the work that will inevitably make anyone who hasn’t been following her career fully aware of her. As director of the first three episodes of the series, Morano draws out some of the finest performances that Elisabeth Moss and Alexis Bledel have given over the course of their entire careers. While she does not act as cinematographer, the show’s use of close-ups is a brilliant canvas for the acting work done by the all-star cast, and Morano’s direction is stylistic and purposeful. We’re just keeping our fingers crossed that she comes back for episodes in the future…
Where to Stream The Handmaid’s Tale
Over the course of Morano’s short yet lucrative career, she has demonstrated that she is a dynamic, skilled cinematographer and director who is capable of telling a plethora of stories. She’s currently filming her next project, I Think We’re Alone Now, starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning, and she is credited as director and cinematographer. What’s fascinating about Morano is that her work isn’t immediately recognizable; if you’re watching something she was the cinematographer for, the first thought won’t be “hey, look, another Morano flick”, it’ll be “hey, who shot this? It looks gooooood.” Morano seemingly does not get caught up in ensuring that some trademark is stamped on every film; she tells a visual story particular to each script, giving them the careful attention they deserve. She is an adaptable professional who is able to change to fit the mold of each story told, and that’s what makes her a force to be reckoned with in the industry. We can’t wait to see what this next phase of her artistry delivers.
