Tron: Ares is the third installment in the Tron films, which have always pushed the boundaries in delivering striking visuals to the big screen.
The films have often been praised for their innovation in visual effects and sound design.
As Tron: Ares is released digitally, TVBEurope talks to cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth about how he created the look of the film.
Tell us about how you got into filmmaking.
I spent much of my youth visiting my father, Jordan Cronenweth ASC, on set and knew at a very early age that I wanted to be part of the camera team. I simply loved the camaraderie and creative collaborations.
How did you get involved with Tron: Ares?
I was first reached out to by Jared Leto, who plays Ares, but was also an executive producer. And then of course by [director] Joachim Ronning. Jared and I first met on Fight Club and then continued to collaborate on music videos over the years.
How early did you get involved with the project?
I signed on in February 2023.
Where did your vision for the film’s look come from?
We paid homage to both the original Tron for Flynn’s Grid and Grain structure. Then Tron: Legacy for Dillinger’s grid, but from there we had an obligation to create both the Encom Grid and the grit and unpredictable real world.
Tell us about the cameras and lenses used on the project and why they were selected.
Red Raptor XL’s, 8K, Arri DNA LF Lenses, 2.40:1 (protect for Imax 1.90:1)
Did you do any testing ahead of production? If so, why and what did it entail? If not, why not?
Since Red was such a dominant colour in the film we needed to find a sensor that best replicated that. We tested all major cameras, and the Red Raptor XL was dominantly better. The DNA glass is adjustable, and we had to fine-tune tune to our liking.
What can you tell us about the film’s lighting?
Predominantly LED units in the sets, the light suits, and the light cycles.
Did the light from the lightcycles cause any problems, or was that added in post?
We had functioning light-controlled lightcycles that we towed, some proxy motorcycles that had all of functioning sources but were self-driving, and then of course help from the VFX team
What were the biggest challenges in working on Tron: Ares?
Probably the seven weeks of nights!
Were there any shots that you were particularly pleased with?
The lightcycle chase was very dynamic and exciting.
