Digital Video magazine — November 2012
‘The Mindy Project:’ Making A Modern-Day Rom-Com

The Mindy Project, a biting single-camera comedy from writer/producer Mindy Kaling (The Office), follows Dr. Mindy Lahiri, a woman who manages a successful career as an OB/GYN while she undermines her personal life with romantic comedy-fueled unrealistic expectations.

The scrappy new series, which stars Kaling alongside cast members Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Anna Camp, Zoe Jarman, Amanda Setton, Stephen Tobolowsky and Ike Barinholtz, premiered on FOX in September. Created, written and executive produced by Kaling, the show is produced by 3 Arts Entertainment and Universal Television, and executive produced by Howard Klein (The Office, Parks and Recreation), Matt Warburton (The Simpsons) and series director Michael Spiller (Modern Family, Scrubs).

Director of photography Marco Fargnoli (Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV) arrived at The Mindy Project following the completion of the series pilot, which was shot by cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond. “It was incredible thrill to come into something he had started,” Fargnoli says.

Shot with Arri Alexa digital cameras employing a combination of Panavision’s new lightweight 19:90 and 7:200 zoom lenses with an older Panavision 11:1 lens for close-ups, The Mindy Project has the heightened look of classic romantic comedy grounded by the day-lit scenes inside the clinic where Mindy works.

“The Alexa is the strongest choice out there. It was the first camera for me that delivered on the promise of what a digital camera could be, and it’s just the best all-around choice for the type of show that we’re doing. Under the constraints of shooting a TV show these days, there’s no other digital format that really touches it,” Fargnoli comments, citing the camera’s dynamic range and color reproduction. (Read full story…)