The Deuce

Season 1, Episode 

Director: Michelle McLaren
HBO

Camerimage 2016 - Best pilot nominee
ASC Awards 2017 - Nomination for outstanding cinematography for a Pilot




From the outset, Michelle MacLaren, David Simon, and George Pelecanos were adamant — they wanted The Deuce to capture the raw, unfiltered essence of 1970s New York City. The grit, the textures, the colors — everything had to feel authentic, stripped of any “TV gloss.”
So we used all the neons and fluorescents of the time, the flickering lights of Time Square, the marquees… We trapped the characters in the shadows of midtown highrises, and the small walls of the SRO hotels. Trash, steam, cigarettes…
To aid the period authenticity, we applied digital grain to the footage. This subtle layer helped replicate the classic film look, adding texture and depth that complemented the gritty world we were trying to build.













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