This live performance with Dua Lipa was created for Time 100 Next, filmed in a vintage recording studio in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. Shot during the height of COVID, when live and pre-recorded sessions defined the music landscape, the project balanced intimacy with cinematic scale.

Working with director Daniel Carberry, our vision was to transform the studio into a stage — blending its retro textures with warm, minimal lighting to complement Dua Lipa’s vocals. The stripped-down environment highlighted the performance’s authenticity while giving the band space to play freely.

As Director of Photography, I oversaw camera and lighting strategy with a skeleton crew under strict COVID protocols. The performance was filmed on three RED Komodos with Cooke S4 Minis, giving us a consistent, cinematic look across every angle. This lightweight setup allowed for 360-degree coverage of Dua and her bandmates, with operators free to move fluidly through the studio. The result was a visual style that felt both raw and polished — echoing the atmosphere of an intimate live session.

This project reflects a unique moment in music history: when artists and filmmakers found new ways to connect audiences to live music, even in the middle of global restrictions.

Credits

Director: Daniel Carberry

Producers: Alexandra Kern

Director of Photography: Michael Gauthier

Steadicam Operator: Connor Smyers

Camera Operator: Dillon Schneider

First AC: Connor Lambert

Gaffer: Adam Lonigro

Key Grip: Jon Brooker

Shot on 3 RED Komodos with Cooke S4 Minis