Behind the Video: Trusting Instinct and Pushing Beyond the Human Form
Two attempts. Two 1,000-foot film magazines. Five 18K lights. And an approaching tropical storm.
Capturing an explosion at 2,500 frames per second on 35mm film is already a demanding technical undertaking. Add a desert location, unpredictable weather and only a few days of preparation, and the production becomes a serious exercise in coordination, precision and timing.
For this project, the team had just days between being hired and arriving on set. Working with a Photo-Sonics camera, they set out to capture one particularly explosive moment in extraordinary detail. Behind the technical achievement was also a collaboration that carried a personal significance for the cinematographer: a woman photographing another woman in an industry where women remain underrepresented in technically demanding roles.
Below, cinematographer Natasha Abdul shares insight into the production of “Doechii – Catwoman”.
The People Behind the Camera
How many people worked on your selected video? Who played a key role in it?
A lot of talented people came together to make this happen, and it really was a team effort. One of the key people was Andy, our Photo-Sonics technician, who was instrumental in helping us pull off shooting 2,500 fps on 35mm. Shooting on a camera like that requires a lot of technical precision, so having someone with his experience was invaluable.
From Wednesday to Saturday
How long did it take to make it? What was the process?
I was hired on Wednesday, and we were shooting by Saturday, so we had just a few days to pull everything together. It was a pretty quick turnaround, especially considering the technical demands of shooting on Photo-Sonics at 2,500 frames per second. There was a lot of problem-solving and coordination in a very short amount of time, but everyone came together to make it happen.
Five 18Ks, Two Takes and an Approaching Storm
What challenges did you face while working on the video?
Photo-Sonics requires an incredible amount of light, so shooting in the desert felt like a no-brainer. Of course, we somehow ended up with a tropical storm on the way and an incredibly cloudy day. Even with five 18Ks at 10 AM and pushed 500T, we were barely getting a T2.8. We also only had two dummies to blow up and two 1,000-foot mags to capture it all, so there wasn’t much room for error. Somehow, everything came together, and right as we wrapped, the storm started rolling in. The whole shoot felt like a bit of synchronicity.
The Moment It All Comes Together
What part of the video is your favorite?
Definitely the moment when Doechii blows up. There’s something so satisfying about seeing all the planning, lighting, and technical work come together in that one moment. Especially knowing we only had two chances to get it right, seeing that explosion captured on film at 2,500 fps was pretty epic.
Women Behind the Camera
Is there any message that the video is sending that you don’t want the viewer to miss?
For me, beyond the video itself, it’s really special to be a woman photographing another woman. Anyone who knows me knows how much I pride myself on representing women in technically challenging spaces, especially in an industry where that’s still pretty rare. There’s something really powerful about that, but more than anything, this was a group of incredibly supportive people coming together, trusting each other, and just trying to make something cool happen.
Watch the music video below.
CREDITS
CATWOMAN @doechii
Directors: @doechii & @carlosacosta____
Production Company: @adele_drive
Executive Producers: @dangerookipawaa, @moosatde,
@langstonsiebens
Producers: @jolenemendes, @moosatde
Director of Photography: @natasha.abdul
Editor: @carlosacosta____
@topdawgent
Hair Stylist: @slayedbymatthew
Makeup Artist: @basedkenken
Wardrobe: @korizosa
SPFX Pyrotechnician: Ante Dugandzic
SPFX Assistant Pyrotechnician: Corey Pritchett
SFX Silicone Body Fabrication & Construction Dept Head:
@alexacantarini_fx
3D Scan & Print: Michael Martel
3D Print Sealed & Finished: Vaida Mikelenaite
Colorist: @ryanurzi
VFX: @maxcoltt
Sound Design: @mattyocumsound
Production Managers: @rachellnagao, @_bridget_taylor_01
1st Assistant Director: @cashonwrap
Steadicam Operator: @steadistan
Photo-sonics Technician: @highspeedandy
1st Assistant Camera: @eric.ugland
2nd Assistant Camera: Will Hecht
Loader: @sergio____torres
Camera Assistants: @reecemoffett, @missflyfits
BTS: @stu.here
Gaffer: @asdfwhat
Best Electric: Rodo Martinez
Electrics: Mauricio Aguilar, @thee_nshet, Jack Shaw
Key Grip: @atthetheater
Best Grip: @sweaterbitch
Grips: Mike Lavere, Will Waters
Medic: @j2_818
Production Assistants: @benjaminlobel, @stu.here, @marv.i.i.n, @_shanebodden_
