Dani Sanchez-Lopez Explained

Dani Sanchez-Lopez
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Jerez de la Frontera, Spain[2]
Alma Mater:Dodge College of Film and Media Arts (MFA)
University of Sevilla (Licenciatura, PhD)
Years Active:2014–present
Notable Works:Mahanati (2018)

Daniel Sanchez-Lopez (born 1981), better known as Dani SaLo, is a Spanish cinematographer, director and actor based in Los Angeles.

Life and career

Dani was seven when he decided to pursue a career in cinema.[3] He was initially drawn to acting, but later shifted his focus to writing, directing and editing after realizing that actors performed lines written by others. Eventually, he discovered a love for cinematography during his studies at Chapman University in California.

He graduated from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts with an MFA in Film Production in 2009.[4] After completing his studies, Dani went to work in Asia due to limited work opportunities in Los Angeles. There, he collaborated with fellow alumni, Ammar Rasool and Mian Adnan Ahmad. Dani directed the music video Aik Tha Badshah for the Pakistani rock group Noori. The video was well-received and was nominated for Best Music Video at the Hum Awards in 2015.[5]

Dani has worked San ‘75, Tamanchey, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! and Dil Dhadakne Do.[6] His career in Indian cinema took a major turn in April 2017, when director Nag Ashwin invited him to join the team of Mahanati, a biopic of the iconic South Indian actress Savitri. His approach to capture the golden era of Telugu and Tamil cinema was influenced by cinematographer Marcus Bartley's work on Mayabazar and others. One of the aspects of his work on Mahanati was the decision to shoot parts of the film on super 16mm film stock to give it a 1980s appearance. Dani's work on Mahanati was highly praised,[7] [8] [9] including commendation from filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao.

After Mahanati, Dani returned to Los Angeles to work on The MisEducation of Bindu. Following his collaboration with Nag Ashwin on Mahanati, Dani was initially brought on board for Ashwin's next project, Kalki 2898 AD.[10] [11] However, Dani was eventually replaced by Djordje Stojiljkovic.[12] Dani's work on Virata Parvam (2022) is influenced by filmmakers and photographers, drawing inspiration from Andrei Tarkovsky’s The Mirror, Stalker and the works of Janusz Kaminski and Emmanuel Lubezki. He has a particular disdain for shooting in studio environments, preferring the challenges of real locations, where he adapts to natural lighting conditions and the physical constraints of the environment. He also conducts workshops and masterclasses at notable institutions, including the Film and Television Institute of India and Chapman University.

Filmography

YearFilm LanguageNotes
2014TamancheyHindi[13]
2017San' 75 PachattarHindiUnreleased film
2018IshqeriaHindi[14]
2018MahanatiTelugu[15]
2019The MisEducation of BinduEnglish[16]
2022Virata ParvamTelugu[17]
2022@Buddhistandqueer: Del sari a la túnicaSpanishDocumentary, Best short film at the 2022 LGCM Awards[18]
2024Operación Barrio InglésSpanish[19]

Music videos

Year! scope="col"
Title Film/AlbumLanguageNotes
2015Aik Tha BadshahBegum Gul Bakaoli SarfaroshHindiAs co-director and cinematographer
Calcutta Kiss SongDetective Byomkesh Bakshy!HindiAs director and cinematographer[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Richarte. Álvaro. 2023-08-10 . La historia de Daniel Sánchez-López: el director de fotografía de Jerez que triunfa en Bollywood . 2024-10-18 . El MIRA . es.
  2. Web site: Ingelmo . Pedro . 2018-10-14 . "Me decían friki y no entendía por qué no lo eran los del fútbol o el Carnaval" . 2024-10-18 . Diario de Jerez . es.
  3. News: Dundoo . Sangeetha Devi . 23 June 2022 . Cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez: Sai Pallavi emerging from the tent in camouflage clothing is a powerful moment in 'Virata Parvam' . 7 October 2024 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  4. Web site: Alumni Spotlight: Dani Sánchez-López . 7 August 2024 . Dodge College of Film and Media Arts . en-US . 7 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807195425/https://blogs.chapman.edu/dodge/2018/07/02/alumni-spotlight-dani-sanchez-lopez/ . live .
  5. Web site: lavozdelsur.es . 10 October 2018 . Un jerezano puede alzarse con un premio 'MTV' pakistaní . 7 August 2024 . lavozdelsur.es . es-ES . 7 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240807195429/https://www.lavozdelsur.es/ediciones/jerez/un-jerezano-puede-alzarse-con-un-premio-mtv-pakistani_25130_102.html . live .
  6. Web site: 12 May 2018 . The making of Mahanati: Cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez talks about recreating the life of Savitri . 7 August 2024 . Firstpost . en-us . 31 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210531153241/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/the-making-of-mahanati-cinematographer-dani-sanchez-lopez-talks-about-recreating-the-life-of-savitri-4466833.html . live .
  7. Web site: 9 May 2018 . Mahanati movie review: Savitri's life is laid down with authenticity, but lacks drama that it inherently demands . 7 August 2024 . Firstpost . en-us . 26 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526060246/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/mahanati-movie-review-savitris-life-is-laid-down-with-authenticity-but-lacks-drama-that-it-inherently-demands-4462883.html . live .
  8. News: Dundoo . Sangeetha Devi . 9 May 2018 . 'Mahanati' review: Nag Ashwin's work of passion doffs its hat to Savitri . 7 August 2024 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X . 14 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210514001520/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mahanati-review-nag-ashwins-work-of-passion-doffs-its-hat-to-savitri/article23823395.ece . live .
  9. Web site: 10 May 2018 . Mahanati Movie Review: Nag Ashwin crafts a soulful ode to Savitri's life . 7 August 2024 . India Today . en . 14 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180914132138/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/mahanati-nadigaiyar-thilagam-review-keerthy-suresh-samantha-akkineni-dulquer-salmaan-1231202-2018-05-10 . live .
  10. Web site: ANI . 29 January 2021 . Makers of Nag Ashwin-Prabhas movie rope in 'Mahanati' cinematographer, music composer . 7 August 2024 . The New Indian Express . en . 8 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220608175541/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2021/jan/29/makers-of-nag-ashwin-prabhasmovie-rope-in-mahanati-cinematographer-music-composer-2256633.html . live .
  11. Web site: Service . Express News . 30 January 2021 . Dani Sanchez-Lopez on board for 'Prabhas 21' . 7 August 2024 . The New Indian Express . en . 1 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201103112/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2021/jan/30/dani-sanchez-lopez-on-board-for-prabhas-21-2256794.html . live .
  12. Web site: Prasad . B. H. . 3 January 2023 . Another Foreign DOP – What To Expect From Project K? . 7 August 2024 . Gulte . en-US . 25 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025091102/https://www.gulte.com/movienews/221765/serbian-cinematographer-djordje-stojiljkovic-for-prabhas-project-k . live .
  13. News: 2 August 2014 . Cops and cuffs at the launch at Tamanchey launch . 6 August 2024 . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806131443/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/cops-and-cuffs-at-the-launch-at-tamanchey-launch/articleshow/39480546.cms . live .
  14. Web site: Kini . Nandan . Ishqeria movie review: Richa Chadha and Neil Nitin Mukesh's film is an unmitigated disaster . 6 August 2024 . Mumbai Mirror . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806132702/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-review/ishqeria-movie-review-richa-chadha-and-neil-nitin-mukeshs-film-is-an-unmitigated-disaster/articleshow/65906177.cms . live .
  15. News: Chowdhary . Y. Sunita . 16 April 2018 . Using film is a different way to capture reality, says 'Manahati' cinematographer Dani Sanchez Lopez . 6 August 2024 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X . 29 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180429173309/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/cinematographer-dani-sanchez-lopez-manahati-savitri/article23557144.ece . live .
  16. Web site: Movie filmed at former Broad Ripple High School . 6 August 2024 . The Indianapolis Star . en-US . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806130714/https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/movies/2018/07/18/movie-filmed-at-former-broad-ripple-high-school/36969845/ . live .
  17. Web site: Srikar . Ram Venkat . 6 July 2022 . The earthiness of Virata Parvam; Cinematographer Dani Sanchez Lopez discusses unique visual choices . 6 August 2024 . The New Indian Express . en . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806125618/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2022/Jul/06/the-earthiness-of-virata-parvamcinematographer-dani-sanchez-lopez-discusses-unique-visual-choices-2473277.html . live .
  18. Web site: Palmarés Oficial 2016 - 21ª edición del LesGaiCineMad . 6 August 2024 . LesGaiCineMad 2023 . es . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226084757/https://www.lesgaicinemad.com/palmares-lgcm-22/ . live .
  19. Web site: Guerrero . Jesús . 12 October 2023 . Presentan en Cádiz la serie de espías que RTVE estrenará en 2024, 'Operación Barrio inglés' . 6 August 2024 . Diario de Cádiz . es . 6 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806124509/https://www.diariodecadiz.es/ocio/Presentan-Cadiz-espias-RTVE-estrenara-2024-operacion-barrio-ingles_0_1838217098.html . live .
  20. Calcutta Kiss Song Detective Byomkesh Bakshy Lauren Gottlieb, Sushant Singh Rajput Imaad, Saba . 23 March 2015 . YRF . 7 August 2024 . YouTube . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416193010/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXi2nYjkD04 . live .

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