(PRWEB) May 3, 2005 -- The world of wizards and magic in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," directed by Oscar nominee, Alfonso Cuaron, and shot by the gifted New Zealand-born cinematographer Michael Seresin, was brought to life through the earthly magic of Cooke S4 Prime Lenses.
It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry. This third, and darkest to date, installment in the worldwide wizard phenomenon, features a gifted cast that includes Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Julie Christie.
Cuaron's wizard world is grainier and grimier than previous Harry Potter films. It feels at once more dangerous, more thoroughly enchanted and more realistic. While the first two episodes took place mostly in the corridors and classrooms of Hogwarts, this one lingers in the shadowy forests and damp meadows outside the school walls, a setting that emphasizes Cuaron's knack for evoking the haunting, sensual power of the natural world - coupled with Seresin's brilliant cinematography - help make this one of the top grossing films in 2004.
To help achieve these effects, Seresin selected Cooke S4 Prime Lenses, since he had up to 15 to 18 cameras on first and second unit, and needed to ensure everything matched. He used the Cooke S4 because of its stunning quality that he loves -- sharp enough, but able to deliver subtleties and convey the dark, sometimes sinister, mood of the film.
Cooke S4 Primes also served the model unit on "Prisoner of Azkaban" as well, according to Stone Nigel, model unit director of photography. "They don't fall off on the focus very fast," said Nigel. "It would be disastrous if Harry was sharp in the foreground and then the leading edge of our model was soft and then went into sharpness. It would look very strange."
This is the second of the three "Harry Potter" films made to date to have used Cooke S4 Prime Lenses. The fourth installment, "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" is currently in production with D.P. Roger Pratt having chosen Cooke S4 Prime Lenses for that shoot as well.
Cooke is a storied name in both the cinemagraphic and the ultra-high-end professional photography markets. Known worldwide for their precision, exacting tolerances and superior quality, Cooke lenses are specified by many of the most renowned directors of photography and cinematographers in Hollywood. Cooke S4 Prime lenses, acclaimed for their unique mechanical design and extraordinary photographic qualities, have been used to shoot several of the most renowned and visually beautiful motion pictures of all time, both in Hollywood and internationally. Other recent box office releases shot with Cooke lenses include "Ray," "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Chicago," "Under the Tuscan Sun," "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and the extraordinarily beautiful "Girl With a Pearl Earring."
For more information about Cooke lenses, visit their website at www.cookeoptics.com
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