VIDEO: Sam McCurdy on Creating the Vision for Smoke

Director of Photography Sam McCurdy, ASC, worked hand-in-hand with Smoke writer and creator Dennis Lehane to build the foundational visual language of the show, developing a set of rules for the directors and cinematographers who would shepherd the show to its finale. Leaning on mid-19th-century imagery for reference, such as the photography of Saul Leiter and films from the Golden Age of Hollywood like The French Connection and The Taking of Pelham 123, McCurdy’s compositions often feature him shooting into reflections or through foreground elements to create separation between characters. Inspired by these iconic images, the handheld work evoked intensity of emotion while the static compositions offered composure. This juxtaposition was also found in the color and exposure, with McCurdy using opposing color and contrast to express the fantasy world of Smoke.