James and Sir Roger Deakins discuss the train robbery sequence from 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'

'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' (2007)
Director: Andrew Dominik
Director of Photography: Sir Roger Deakins

Moderated by Wendy Roderweiss

Roger A. Deakins was born and raised in Devon. He studied Graphic Design at the Bath College of Art and before continuing on to the National Film School, he spent time shooting still photographs for North Devon, with the intent of capturing the disappearing rural farm life. After graduating from the National Film School, he shot a number of documentaries and then moved into feature films. Roger has been nominated 16 times for an Academy Award and won twice for the movies BLADERUNNER 2049 and 1917. He has also been nominated 17 times for the top award of the American Society of Cinematographers, 11 times for the BAFTA award and 11 times for the British Society of Cinematographers. He has been awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Society of Cinematographers, the British Society of Cinematographers and the National Board of Review. He is also the only cinematographer to have been awarded the honour of CBE in 2013 as well as receiving the honour of knighthood in 2021. Roger also enjoys being a visual consultant on certain animated films. He has consulted on WALL•E, RANGO, all of the HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON films and VIVO, to name a few. Among his list of films are: SID AND NANCY, MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON, BARTON FINK, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, FARGO, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, SKYFALL, BLADERUNER 2049, 1917, THE GOLDFINCH, PRISONERS, TRUE GRIT, O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?, UNBROKEN, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, SICARIO, KUNDUN, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, JARHEAD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE, and EMPIRE OF LIGHT.

James Ellis Deakins is the creative work partner of Roger Deakins. Born on the east coast of the United States, she double majored in college in Latin and Greek, doing a graduate course in Latin as an undergraduate. Once out of school, she began her film work in New York City as a film lab technician at DuArt Film Laboratories and then a script supervisor in production. After moving to Los Angeles, she met Roger Deakins on a film set and their creative collaboration began. Eventually relinquishing the role of script supervisor to more fully enter into their collaborative partnership, she and Roger developed their unique working style which has continued to evolve as they enter into new enterprises, including a podcast (“Team Deakins”), a website and a book of still photography. James’ natural affinity with technology proved essential when productions moved from the use of film capture to digital. Team Deakins create their approach and plan to a film together. James oversees the many details that need to be coordinated which allows Roger to focus on capturing the visual. Working together, James and Roger have strived to create memorable images as well as share their knowledge with others.