DV Magazine — August 2016
Past and Present Intertwine In ‘Lady Dynamite’

Maria Bamford’s new semi-autobiographical comedy series for Netflix, Lady Dynamite, is as weird as it is wonderful. Created and executive produced by Arrested Development’s Mitch Hurwitz and South Park’s Pam Brady, Lady Dynamite has a knockout supporting cast, led by Bridget Everett and Lennon Parham as Bamford’s besties and SNL’s Ana Gasteyer as her agent, set against a backdrop filled with a slew of guest stars including Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Tig Notaro, Jon Cryer, Mira Sorvino, and, in a recurring role as Bamford’s life coach, the fantastic Jenny Slate.

The central plot, which tracks Bamford’s attempts to create a balanced life for herself in Hollywood following a period of hospitalization for bipolar disorder, interweaves three separate timelines: “Past,” the neon-bright era from before her breakdown that saw her working as the spokesperson for a national chain of big-box stores; “Duluth,” the hazy, unfocused time in the hospital and her parent’s Midwestern home after her mental collapse; and “Present,” in which a medicated Bamford gamely tries to re-start career while struggling not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Austrian-born, Park City, UT-based cinematographer Heimo Ritzinger shot all 13 episodes of the first season of Lady Dynamite, creating separate looks for each of the three timelines in order to help viewers keep track of the story as it loops and winds towards Bamford’s present-day existence as a stand-up comedienne in Los Angeles. (Read full story…)