Tal Lazar

Cinematographer, Producer, Educator

Tal Lazar is a Cinematographer, Producer and Educator. Tal has worked on numerous international box office successes, with Vietnam at the forefront. Domestically, Lazar’s projects have found homes in theatrical as well as online distribution.

In 2011 Tal became a faculty member at the American Film Institute Conservatory where he served as a senior lecturer for 7 years. During this time he created Berklee College of Music’s online Digital Cinematography course which now runs for 10 years. He is currently a faculty member at Columbia University School of the Arts and the City College of New York, and most recently joined Sundance Institute's Collab platform teaching cinematography to Sundance fellows.

Tal moved from Tel Aviv, Israel in 2007 to pursue an MFA in Cinematography at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Hollywood. Tal earned his BFA in Film & Television studies at Tel Aviv University, where he won the Sharet Foundation Award for Best Cinematography. He completed his military service at the IDF with a sign of excellence in service bestowed on him by Israeli president Ezer Weizman in 2000.

Tal is a partner & CEO of New York based production company MiLa Media and heads Quonder, a next generation online learning platform.

Courses by Tal Lazar

The Art & Science of Lenses

4.8
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Lenses are one of the most important creative tools in cinematography. They are shrouded in mystery and most of their potential often remains unused. Join the select group of professionals who possess the knowledge to use lenses to their full potential. Learn the foundations of optics and gain the ability to design lens tests, collaborate with technicians and understand technical specifications.

Cinematography for Directors

4.95
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Working with a cinematographer is a skill which every Film and TV director or producer needs to master. What do they need to know to do their job best? What decisions are made by the director and what by the cinematographer, and how to make these decisions? How to lead a technical team without being a technical master yourself? This course will take you to the heart of your own story. You’ll learn how to find and communicate the core of what your images need to express, and make decisions like where to place your camera and what lens to use. You’ll learn to harness the immense power of narrative perspective, move the camera purposefully and lead your team confidently in making these decisions.

From Scene to Screen Workshop

3.5

In this hour-long session Tal Lazar takes a deep-dive into the type of preparation a director does in order to initiate a successful collaboration with a cinematographer. Topics covered include: What in the script is used to create images? What in the script is used to create images? What is the role of the director when working with a cinematographer, and how to lead a creative conversation without needing much technical knowledge?

The Language of Lighting

4.6
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Lighting is a language communicating information and emotions to the viewer. It is also a language visual artists use to communicate with each other. This course is not just about lamps and lighting conventions. Learn to see light like a professional cinematographer and design it to tell a story. What is the purpose of lighting in a scene and how to connect it with your character? What is the difference between lighting on set or on a soundstage? How do you lead a team of lighting technicians? What is the best lighting unit to choose, and why? All these questions and more are answered in this course, filmed on a soundstage and utilizing demonstrations and many scenes from great films.

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