Episode
Yasu Tanida and Us | Cinematographer
- Podcast
- That Was Us
- Published
- Jul 21, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4084
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
This week on That Was Us, we’re beyond excited to welcome cinematographer Yasu Tanida, the visionary behind the distinctive look of This Is Us. Yasu takes us behind the camera to reveal how he helped create the show's signature visual language, from its soft and nostalgic aesthetic to the intimate handheld style that made viewers feel like they were living alongside the Pearson family. In this episode, Yasu chats about: * How he developed the iconic visual style of This Is Us and why the show was designed to feel like a memory * The handheld camerawork and lens choices that helped create intimacy with the Pearson family * Working to “detune” lenses and create the soft, dreamy glow seen throughout the series * The role color palette, framing, and composition play in creating the show's nostalgic tone * Why the camera often sits outside rooms, quietly observing the characters * Collaborating with the lighting team to create beautiful images * The technical considerations of lighting different skin tones * His philosophy that actors and story always come first * Creating efficient lighting setups that allow scenes to flow naturally * Spending time in the editing room with Dan Fogelman to learn the visual “language” of the show and refine his storytelling instincts * How he pushed the signature This Is Us look even further on Paradise and other projects And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual! That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith. ------------------------- Support Our Sponsors: - Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our l…