About Sorry to Bother You (2018)

Director

Boots Riley

Cinematography

Doug Emmett

Shot on

Digital (ARRI Alexa Mini)

Lenses

Cooke anamorphic lenses

Look

Color

Aspect ratio

2.39:1

A telemarketer in Oakland gets ahead by using a white voice, and finds out what the company is really selling. It was Riley's first feature, and it's a satire that keeps escalating.

How it was made

• Doug Emmett shot anamorphic on a 4:3 sensor. He wanted a fast, modern anamorphic lens with subtle curvature distortion.
• The crew lit with ARRI SkyPanels on wireless DMX control to move fast on a tight schedule. Day scenes used sunlight bounced from mirrors, white cloth and foam core.
• Cassius's bedroom was modeled on a photo of Bob Marley's bedroom from a documentary. Boots Riley wanted the sets to have a beautiful clutter.