DP Timothy Richardson harnessed B&W to paint an intimate portrait highlighting mental health.

Timothy Richardson in ROUTINE. Photo Courtesy of Untraditional Films. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Shot on the Sony FX6, DP and director Timothy Richardson created a film noir atmosphere, and a sense of melancholy for Routine, a film about a man who goes through his daily routine while dealing with the uncertainties of depression.

Typically symptoms of depression can lead to dysfunctional behavior such as anger and substance abuse but every case of depression looks different. This film focuses its lens on a man who is currently fighting a silent battle while trying to retain a sense of normalcy by going through his daily routine.

Photo Courtesy of Untraditional Films. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

The film received rave reviews for its unique perspective in exploring the social issue of depression, and how that can look different from person to person.

Gravitating toward stories that use characters to explore social issues, mostly in the drama genre, Timothy's visual style is known for rich color palettes, dynamic images, and intimate camera work.

"I settled on B&W because of the relationship between highlights and shadows, and the ability to create an expressive image. The visual language of still framing communicates the protagonist's inability to escape those symptoms of depression."

Timothy Richardson in ROUTINE. Photo Courtesy of Untraditional Films. © 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Timothy shot Routine using the Sony FX6, with cinema prime lenses provided by Irix.

"I shot the entire film with one lens, specifically a 45mm. After testing a few focal lengths, it fit the ticket for being able to get intimate photography while creating beautiful frames that capture the protagonist in the B&W world. The film was shot with mostly natural light but a 300 GVM was supplemented for additive light.”

Routine won Best North America Drama at the 2024 Couch Film Festival.