“LION” Cinematographer Sophie Darlington ASC on Crafting the Disney+ and National Geographic Documentary

In this episode, we welcome Sophie Darlington ASC, an award-winning cinematographer whose remarkable career has taken her around the world capturing wildlife and the natural world. In our conversation, she takes us behind the scenes of LION, sharing how she filmed the documentary over the course of four years in the wild, and what went into bringing the Jon Favreau–executive-produced project to life. She discusses the technologies used to craft the film’s stunning imagery, along with the challenges of this type of production. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Futureproofing with IP videoAs production workflows rapidly evolve, IP video is key to building more scalable, future-ready pipelines. To get up to speed on the IP fundamentals and gain insights into the various IP paths – like ST 2110, NDI, Dante AV, and SRT – download AJA’s free IP video white paper today.Post|Production World New YorkOct. 20-21 | New YorkSharpen your edit, your motion graphics, and your AI workflow in two days. Post|Production World New York brings certified trainers and working pros to NAB Show New York, October 20-21, with hands-on sessions in Premiere, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Cinema 4D. Registration includes show floor access.Discount Code: PPWTMORegister hereA Solution Built Around Your WorkflowThe OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is available in a range of configurations to fit your workflow and budget. Choose from ready-to-run solutions with up to 32TB of high-performance NVMe storage, giving you the speed, capacity, and reliability needed for everything from multi-camera editing to demanding VFX and finishing workflows. Available now. Explore hereElgato Prompter XLThe Elgato Prompter XL is a professional all-in-one teleprompter with a 15.6” removable display and a reading range of up to 15 feet. Featuring USB 3.2 connectivity and broad compatibility, it’s ideal for live productions and content creation. Available now at Videoguys.com—call 800-323-2325 to learn more.Explore hereZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology PlatformZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Read more herePodcast Rewind:July 2026 - Ep. 147.Partner with The Making Of:Reach 275,000+ film industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this weekly newsletter. To explore advertising, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe