The cw drama Joan (2024), starring Sophie Turner and written by Anna Symon, tells the story of a woman who is torn between two worlds: the thrilling life of a jewel thief and the struggles of a single mother who is striving to reunite with her daughter. Bringing this story to life required an intricate visual language that balances glamour and emotional depth. this particular task fell to the hands of cinematographer Pedro Cardillo.
we had the chance to ask cardillo a few questions. In our conversation, the cinematographer brought us into the creative process behind Joan‘s distinctive visual style. he reveals how each choice was carefully crafted to support the narrative’s tone and emotional resonance.
Building Joan’s Visual Language
cardillo emphasizes in our interview the importance of collaboration in developing Joan’s aesthetic. Working alongside director Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs, The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe, Mrs Wilson), production designer Lucienne Suren, and gaffer Yurandi Poots. he created a cohesive visual style tailored to the story’s dual aspects: the vibrant, high-stakes world of jewel heists and the raw, intimate struggles of motherhood.
The process began with extensive research across art forms. the show is Referencing iconic films like Scarface (1983) and Paris, Texas (1984) for their bold use of color and composition, cardillo found inspiration in the visual language of the 1980s For the glamorous and dangerous heist sequences. Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995) served as a touchstone, with its precise framing and classical film language. Meanwhile, the more emotional, grounded aspects of Joan’s journey drew from Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (2016), known for its delicate and organic visuals and, so cardillo: “they suit another vital aspect of Joan: the mother.”
cardilllo describes the cinematography as a means of staying “close to Joan, truthful to her feelings, and avoiding over-stylizing the 1980s.” This required balancing the era’s vivid aesthetic with a palpable representation of the character’s struggles.
usage of light to showcase emotion
one of the challenges in Joan’s cinematography was to maintain a focus on the character’s emotional arc. Director Richard Laxton’s key request was that Sophie Turner’s eyes should always be lit to convey her emotions. this initiated a collaboration between Pedro and gaffer Yurandi Poots.
“which involved creating several different lighting sources and devices for this purpose. The approach to lighting and shooting emotionally charged scenes was straightforward and no-nonsense. The camera had to be close to Joan, usually handheld to bring organic authenticity, with normal to medium-long lenses (50mm, 65mm, and 85mm were the most used)”
This approach is used to enhance the organic, naturalistic feel of these scenes.
between Aesthetics and the Narrative
“he key to creating engaging visuals that enhance the story instead of distracting is achieved through hard work during prep, with lots of research, dialogue, and testing. “
To ensure that the visuals complement rather than overshadow the story, cardillo relied on meticulous preparation. “Creating a visual concept is like creating a new world,” he says. “We need a set of rules—the DOs and DON’Ts—so that every choice fits cohesively.” For Joan he chose vintage Moviecam prime lenses from the 1980s, paired with the Alexa Mini LF camera, to achieve a soft-contrast look with gentle skin tones and smooth bokeh. these choices help the audience to see Joan’s vulnerability while the visuals remain technically robust to avoid distracting from the narrative.
Pedro cardillo collaborated with colorist Jat Patel to develop a custom look inspired by early 90s Fuji film stock. The resulting look: soft contrast, muted colors, and lifted blacks, capturing Joan’s blend of glamour and emotional grit.
The Cinematographer’s Role
” I see the director of photography as the guardian of the visual concept of the audiovisual piece” Carrillo says in our interview “There are no pearls on the seashore; we must dive to find them.” Cardillo quotes when describing the visual approach on his work. he is responsible for maintaining consistency in camera behavior, composition, lighting, and tone across all six episodes of the show. he creates the visual language established during pre-production and he ensures that every frame of Joan serves its story and characters.
This approach brings Joan to life as a visually captivating exploration of a woman’s fractured journey. we are very thankful for this opportunity and look forward to see his work on Joan. out to stream on ITVX!