Luc Besson Did More Than Direct
While it’s common for directors to have a clear concept of how they want their films to visually unfold before production begins, Luc Besson possessed an exceptionally precise vision for The Fifth Element. This heightened the personal and hands-on nature of the filmmaking process.
Despite the presence of a dedicated camera crew responsible for framing and capturing shots, Besson preferred to take matters into his own hands. Cinematographer Thierry Arbogast revealed, “Luc is doing all the framing himself…It’s only him behind the camera.” Besson would seamlessly alternate between overseeing takes and collaborating with the on-screen actors.
