Did You Order a New Canon or Nikon DSLR? You'll Have to Wait

Not only do films of the 1990’s feel different than ones released today, but they also look a lot different. Why is this? One of the major factors was the actual type of film that was used. Many movies in the 90’s were shot on vibrant film stocks that emphasized contrast and saturation. The chemical processes that were used in developing these films often produced rich colors that are less common in digital cinematography. Those rich colors were also accentuated through different lighting techniques, which changed to a more naturalist look by the early 2000’s.

When DP Powell Robinson signed on to the Hulu horror film, Mr. Crocket, one of the main directions the film’s director, Brandon Espy, told him was that he wanted the film to feel like a gritty '90s drama. The reference films that were specifically mentioned being Menace II Society, Juice, and New Nightmare for the horror aspect.

To get this specific look Powell says, “I made the choice to forgo vintage lenses for a lens that matched the direction lens makers were going during that time period with the PV primos in 89, and the Zeiss Ultra Primes and Cooke S4 at the end of the '90s—aberration free, sharp, but still having their own distinct attitude.” He talks about this and many other ways of achieving a '90s look in the below interview.