DOP Ashley Connor on shooting True Things with Zero Optik Nikon AI-S lenses from Pixipixel

Pixipixel provided the camera equipment for the psychological drama True Things which has just premiered in UK cinemas. New York-based cinematographer Ashley Connor beautifully captured the intense story of a young woman whose life is turned upside down after a chance encounter with a charismatic stranger. 

Based on Deborah Kay Davies’ book True Things About Me, the film is directed by Harry Wootliff and stars Ruth Wilson (His Darks Materials, The Affair, Luther) and Tom Burke (Only God Forgives, The Souvenir Part I & II, Mank). Wilson plays Kate, a young woman living on the fringes of society who becomes intoxicated by a stranger who overwhelms her quiet life. 

DOP Ashley Connor’s career was shaped by working in the experimental realm. Her resume includes The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Madeline’s Madeline, for which Connor earned an Independent Spirit nomination in 2019. Harry Wootliff’s previous work includes directing the BAFTA-nominated Nits and BIFA-winning romantic drama Only You. 

True Things, the first collaboration between the British director and American cinematographer, tells the story of an all-consuming relationship through a truly feminine lens. “True Things was one of these projects where everything lined up really quickly. The director Harry Wootliff had seen some of my work and reached out for a meeting. From our initial discussion about the film, we were on the same page.” shares Connor.

“I had never read a script that dealt with this subject matter in such a way. Traditionally the audience has been fed a version of this movie that’s diminutive towards women. I felt so inherently connected to the story as if it unlocked something emotional in me. I was interested in and invested in sharing the character’s perspective. This was reflected in the cinematography as we aimed to show the vulnerability of the female character in an authentic way. Whenever we designed a scene, the overarching approach was very much about making the audience feel the same way Kate feels in that moment, whether that was subconscious or conscious.” adds Connor.

The film follows benefit claims worker Kate, who is sleepwalking through life when a chance sexual encounter with a charismatic stranger awakens her and changes her life forever. “This is a story about passionately throwing your whole being into a stranger and then questioning yourself or trying to see if that was the right decision. We used the camera movement and colour to show Kate’s experiences filled with dizzying highs and depressive lows.” says Connor.

The camera package included an Arri Alexa Mini and a Nikon AI-S lens set, rehoused by Zero Optik supplied by London-based rental house Pixipixel. Ashley Connor shares: “For True Things, I really wanted lenses with an inherent texture and rounded edges. Owen Tanner, Camera Floor Manager at Pixipixel, really helped me out by recommending the rehoused Nikon AI-S lenses. As soon as I tried the 58mm, I knew that’s the right lens for this film. It was just beautiful. There was some magic to it; clean with a little bit of softness. I loved the bokeh and everything about the Nikon AI-S lenses.”

“The camera choice was very straightforward. I usually shoot in the Arri family because I like workflow and the build. The film was so much about the intimacy that I thought that the Arri Alexa Mini would be the best option for us to rig in cars and small spaces.” explains Ashley. 

“I like working with directors who are open to being a little playful or experimental, and Harry Wootliff is all of this. We wanted to be bold with the camera work and veer into almost surreal directions without it being too on the nose. It was always about bringing people on this journey with the main character.” 

 The filming began in March 2020, but production ground to a halt after just one week due to the global pandemic. “During lockdown, we had a lot of time to review and edit the footage. This gave us a fresh perspective and inspired us to be much bolder. With this sense of new energy, the hardest part was waiting to come back because we were ready to do this.” recalls Connor.  

True Things is a film about abusive relationships but rewriting the traditional narrative with raw and honest visuals showing what the female character experiences. Ashley Connor’s stunning cinematography features close-ups to capture each character’s emotional state. This allows the audience to go on a journey with Kate, the lead character, and experience living in her world. “Ruth Wilson’s performance was elegant, layered, and complicated. She’s always been an actor who commits to a character in full force. I’d always wanted to work with her” adds Connor.

Ashley Connor is a fine example of a cinematographer who did their own thing rather than following the traditional path. She explains: “I’m invested in the poetry. We need to change the way that we tell stories instead of prescribing to traditional rules, so I encourage young cinematographers to find their own way because there’s no clear algorithm for filmmaking.”