Cinematographer Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, ASC was in the tenth grade when her English teacher screened “The Conformist” on a film print. A single scene—a car moving through trees, shot by Vittorio Storaro—changed the direction of her life. Now an Emmy-nominated cinematographer with credits spanning Netflix’s record-breaking “One Piece” and the Spirit Award-nominated feature “Dust Bunny,” Nicole brings a career built on visual intelligence to Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1970 psychological thriller.
Andy Nelson and Pete Wright dig into Storaro’s color-as-psychology approach, the fascist architecture that makes bodies feel small on screen, and the forest sequence that echoes across decades into the Coen brothers and Roger Deakins. Nicole also talks about the 3:1 aspect ratio on “Dust Bunny” and why scope is worth fighting for in a world designed for phone screens. Her word for “The Conformist”: elegant darkness.
🎬 Watch & Discover
What to Listen to Next:
🔓 The movie ends. The conversation goes further. Become a member.
🎧 Members get this episode early and ad-free in their private feed—plus every show in The Next Reel family.
Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:
The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:
Connect With Us:
Shop & Stream: