Given the dark and secretive nature of “Man Suang,” the camera’s exceptional dynamic range was especially crucial in bringing the filmmakers’ creative vision to life. “The ALEXA 35 allowed us to embrace the challenges of working in low light conditions. There was no electricity in that era, so the film was mostly shot in natural light and, as mentioned, candlelight. There were several scenes set in a dark room that required special candlelight effects, and we also had the actors' faces illuminated by lanterns during the rehearsal scenes behind the stage. We shot at ISO 3200 with enhanced sensitivity switched on, and the results turned out beautifully,” reveals Chalermpornpanit.
A lantern illuminates protagonist Khem’s face
The team was also determined to infuse the film with vibrant colors. DP Chalermpornpanit continues: “Our color scheme evolves with the characters' emotions, making it difficult to light the scenes realistically, so we relied heavily on post-production and color grading. The REVEAL Color Science assisted greatly in handling mixed lighting situations in unique atmospheres.”
DP Chaiyapreuk Chalermpornpanit and the ALEXA 35 on a dolly
Colorist Khunpinij expresses the team’s surprise at the camera's ability to capture accurate colors, granting them greater flexibility during post-production. This challenge was particularly evident in a specific scene inside character Tub Tim's room, where the filmmakers chose to give the highlights a magenta hue as the light passed through the glass window.
Light passing through magenta-tinted glass windows shines on the main characters
“In this scene, a captivating magenta glow emanates from the window, which inspired me to create a distinct ambiance for this room, setting it apart from the rest of the film. The results were remarkable! I achieved the desired magenta-infused look while maintaining excellent skin tones,” explains Khunpinij. “The new ARRI LogC4 gave us the flexibility to push the limit of our creativity. We were delighted with its ability to fine-tune colors yet still achieve a natural look in every single colorful shot.”
“We really appreciated the ALEXA 35 during the final grading process. The camera’s organic color saturation and film-like grain truly stood out. It’s a classic look with modern technology,” adds director Ketnust.
“Man Suang” is now showing in theaters in Thailand.
