http://www.rushprint.no/a...php?id=380
Interesting news, i'll give it a try:

Veteran cinematographer Odd-Geir Sæther from Norway has worked for David Lynch on his new movie INLAND EMPIRE from December 2004 - May 2005. INLAND EMPIRE, written and directed by David Lynch, takes place “in the inland valley outside of Los Angeles” and is supposed to be “a mystery about a woman in trouble”.

-This movie is probably more complex than any of his previous (films), and very mysterious or cryptic. But i'm not allowed to say much more than that, says Sæther, a Lynch-fan with Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and The Elephant Man as favourites.

Not really inspired by the "dogme"-style, Lynch is working simplistic with light, handheld DV-cameras. Lynch says DV is like early 35mm, that didn't have that tight grain and when you have a poor image, there's lots more room to dream.

-INLAND EMPIRE is Lynchs private version of "dogme", although he doesn't care about the "dogme concept". He has great freedom with the new format and is using a small crew. David is often using a camera himself. Things are done in a simple way, but with just as much emphasis on decorations and details as always. It's exciting to see what comes out in the other end, Sæther says.

-I got a bit involved in a documentary about Lynch in Lodz, Poland in December last year. Lynch-protegé Jason Scheunemann, who worked on ”Mulholland drive”, is working on a documentary about him. Norwegian Ole Johan Roska hooked me up on the project, but there was a danish cinematographer too in addition to Jason, so there was not much need for me.

But David needed some help. INLAND EMPIRE is being shot on the DV-camera PD-150, and he didn't know much about this camera. He found out I'm a veteran cinematographer with almost 50 years experience. I've worked on the movie as cinematographer since December. He loved what I did in Poland this winter, and a few weeks ago I was asked if I was free this summer. But I'm busy until September and they're probably done by then. Roska is in LA at the moment to continue, since I can't. But when I left LA in May, he mentioned he would do more in Poland this autumn. Lynch is generally unpredictable, and things happen on very short notice.

-He works in a very unusual way. On sets, he instructs the actors like a machine gun on half speed, and is interested in things very different from what's normal in Hollywood. Although he's concerned about the script and directing, he loves the camera. A small and light camera is important to him.
He uses 3 of them: The main one is the small Sony-camera, it's between consumer and professional. He often uses the main one himself, and some competent people on camera 2 and 3, or camera 1 if something is very difficult or demanding. It depends on the situation. He also needs help with the lights on a set. All the lights in decorations are set up with a "dimmer" and can be regulated from a control board, Sæther says.

The plan is to finish the film in time for the Cannes festival next year.
-I'm not sure if it will be transferred to 35 mm, with Cannes in mind it is perhaps likely that it will.

by - tdickson (Sun Jul 24 2005 04:04:35 ) Ignore this User | Report Abuse

UPDATED Mon Jul 25 2005 16:00:45

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At Glendale Studios, I saw parking spots marked "David Lynch" "Laura Dern" "Diane Ladd" "William Macy" and "Justin Theroux." Not that far from Upland, come to think of it.


thats a new one.

Inland Empire" Eyewitness Report
Posted: Tuesday August 16th, 2005 2:12pm
Source: Dark Horizons
Author: Garth Franklin



'ME' just completed two days as a featured extra on the new film, "Inland Empire" directed by David Lynch and starring Harry Dean Stanton, Laura Dern and newcomer Terryn Westbrook. Here's his full report:

"The film has been filming since 2003, at which time my sister-in-law was an extra. Having taken off time from work to have a baby, she only did the couple of days In Dec '03 when Lynch shot for several days just out of LA (most of the film was shot in Poland) and did no more. When the opportunity arose for extras again - she declined, but I decided to look into it. What do you know? I got two days work.

I didn't get the script, we were only given a BREAKDOWN of our scene, and that's all. Lynch said very LITTLE to us on both days. The DP was more sociable, and the casting director was lovely. What I can gather is that it's a Twin Peaks-like mystery about a woman that dissapears near the San Gab mountains.

We did auditorium scenes - crowd, typical red-robed curtains behind lounge act - which went over three days, though I was only available for two. The task was to basically sit, in awe, of the performance in stage - played, comically - though I'm assuming my smile will be overshadowed by my look of awe. Not that you'll see my in the finished cut, I'm row P - right-back, near entrance. It's a REALLY dark theatre (though not theatre, just a set near San Gabriel mountains here) too.

We do hear music BUT it's not coming from the singer's mouth. She lip-synches, and I believe they fix it all later - - - or something. I didn't recognize the singer/actress. An older man was there directing ? her music.

The film was shot on Digital Video, so I imagine it's going to look VERY cool. It's an experimental film for Lynch, so it is hard to say how it will go (and at one stage I believe it was going to be made for DavidLynch.com only), but it will be interesting to see the finished product - no less.

Laura Dern was on the set on the second day, I think she's going to be playing a role in the film too - maybe even a starring one? - and Kyle MacLachlan (barely recognizable, because of his SILVER hair!) turned up too late afternoon on the Thursday.

The DP, who I'd met at lunch on the Wed and talked to a group of us (he was GREAT!) said David and Kyle are thinking about doing some "Dale Cooper" telemovies - the dude he played on TV. Nothing to do with Twin Peaks, I guess, just that character."