Barry Jenkins Says All-Virtual Filmmaking ‘Is Not My Thing’ After Directing ‘Mufasa’; Disney Sent Him a Note Worrying That One Long Take Was Too ‘Slow’

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for cinematic masterpieces that tug at the heartstrings and challenge the status quo, I find myself utterly captivated by Barry Jenkins‘ latest venture into the world of Disney’s “Mufasa.” Having been enchanted by his breathtaking works like “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” this transition to an all-digital prequel of “The Lion King” initially left me perplexed.

Disney’s “The Lion King” film titled “Mufasa,” is one of the final major Hollywood productions this year, and it could be director Barry Jenkins’ initial and possibly only experience creating a movie in full digital format. Known for his Academy Award-winning dramas like “Moonlight” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Jenkins, in an interview with Vulture, addressed the question on everyone’s mind: “How could someone like me, known as ‘Mr. Moonlight,’ be making a prequel to The Lion King?

I can’t help but mention the Super Bowl without someone bringing up my current film project. Frankly, when I accepted this role, there were questions about my ability in visual effects. I found that intriguing. After all, isn’t it just a matter of using computers? So, why can’t anyone do this? It’s merely a tool, and if we have the skills to learn and use it, then shouldn’t everyone be able to create something like this?

In the detailed analysis of “Mufasa,” vultures highlight how director Jenkins utilized virtual tools for a span of three years, similar to Jon Favreau’s approach in 2019’s “The Lion King.” Notably, “Mufasa” is a prequel to that narrative. Interestingly, the production took 147 days to complete, but there was no actual set involved. However, Jenkins seems hesitant about revisiting this type of filmmaking in the near future.

Jenkins expressed his discomfort with all-digital filmmaking, stating, “It’s not my style or preference. I yearn to return to the traditional method where I can have tangible control over every aspect of the production. I believe that what we have here is sufficient, and I want to explore the right mix of elements – people, light, environment – to create an impactful, beautiful, and profound visual narrative.

The long-term producer of the director, Adele Romanski, shared with Vulture that he may direct an Alvin Ailey biopic for Searchlight Pictures in the near future. No matter what Jenkins decides, it won’t be a movie with a budget of $250 million. Instead, they will need to return to using a more constrained set of resources.

Despite working in a purely digital environment, as per Vulture’s report, Jenkins made every effort to infuse “Mufasa” with his distinctive style. The article points out that the film features extended, flowing shots that smoothly move towards and around characters, reminiscent of techniques mastered by slow-cinema pioneers such as Béla Tarr, Jia Zhangke, and Gus Van Sant. Notably, Jenkins received a comment from the parent company expressing concern over one of the long takes being ‘too slow,’ but there was no requirement for him to make any changes in this regard.

I aimed to capture each scene with minimal takes, Jenkins shared, even though it wasn’t strictly necessary for us to approach the scenes in this manner.

“Mufasa” opens in theaters Dec. 19 from Disney.

2024-12-05 23:46

Barry Jenkins Says All-Virtual Filmmaking ‘Is Not My Thing’ After Directing ‘Mufasa’; Disney Sent Him a Note Worrying That One Long Take Was Too ‘Slow’

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