One of China's most esteemed cinematographers, Cao Yu, gave a master class on Aug. 3, in Beijing lecturing on how to use IMAX-certified cameras and other technologies to create visual spectacles.

Cinematographer Cao Yu poses with the IMAX-certified Arri Alexa 65 camera. [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

Cao, China's first IMAX resident artist, cited his latest efforts while working on Chen Sicheng's "Decoded" as examples to help illustrate his perspective on cinematography, technological innovation and how the "Filmed for IMAX" program is a significant opportunity that helps him realize his creative visions.

"The approach and cameras used in 'Filmed for IMAX' capture carefully designed moving images with a broader field of view, tailored for the IMAX big screen, and fully reflect the creator's original intentions. Specifically for 'Decoded,' 'Filmed for IMAX' is deeply compatible with the filmmaker's artistic style," Cao said.

"Decoded," Chen Sicheng's new film, combines elements of epic drama, psychological thriller, adventure and history, presenting surreal dream sequences as windows to the subconscious. The film follows a fragile and reclusive young man with exceptional mathematical talent who enters the perilous world of cryptography and becomes an unsung national hero by deciphering enemy communications in the high-stakes world of espionage. 

The film was shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras.

Showcasing breathtaking visuals, immersive soundscapes and meticulous production design, "Decoded" breaks sensory boundaries and sets a new benchmark for Chinese filmmaking, presenting a fresh and innovative approach to the industry. 

Cinematographer Cao Yu, along with his team, utilizes a massive LED light array to create a dazzling sunset on the set of "Decoded." [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

Cao Yu, proud of his work on the film, believes that the cinematographic aesthetics of "Decoded" can be summarized as "both real and fantastical," blending the dreamlike feelings of reality with the realistic sensations of dreams. With this unique aesthetic pursuit, the film's content demanded higher image quality during the filming process, which the "Filmed for IMAX" approach complemented perfectly. Thus, the ultra-high clarity and color fidelity of IMAX significantly enhances the cinematographer's capabilities.

Cao noted that to preserve light authenticity, many scenes in "Decoded" were filmed using natural light sources, leveraging the superior resolution and color accuracy of IMAX cameras. He highlighted a scene featuring Daniel Wu's character and the young math prodigy conversing in the dark, illuminated only by a hand-held lamp. Despite the minimal lighting, the IMAX camera captured the scene with "elastic shadows and a beautiful sense of transition," pushing the dynamic range of the IMAX-certified camera to its limits. Cao believes that "being able to shoot such beautiful scenes in such a simple way is still a result of the top-notch cameras and the projection system."

Besides the use of natural light sources, the filming of "Decoded" also saw the use of innovative lighting techniques adopted. Cao revealed, "'Decoded' is the first domestic film to control all LED lights entirely with a digital lighting control console."

Cao highly praised the IMAX cameras for their ability to nearly replicate human vision, noting, "their sense of volume and distance matches what the human eye sees." He highlighted their benefits in character filming, referring to this advantage as "an amplification of character psychology." He further explained, "filming a single character with a wide shot results in no distortion. This gives the audience a psychological feeling: I am very close to this person, but they do not look distorted because the IMAX-certified camera will not allow it."

IMAX poster for "Decoded." [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]

The respected cinematographer also shared insights from multiple professional perspectives during the master class, diving into the film's cinematographic style, behind-the-scenes artistic creation as well as the brainstorming process for various scenes. One such tidbit he gave included how the cinematography team used software to predict the sun's trajectory for precise shooting arrangements, resulting in impressive effects like the dazzling sunset in the film.

"Decoded" hit Chinese theaters on Aug. 3 and had grossed nearly 240 million yuan as of Thursday, Aug. 8. CMC Pictures is set to release "Decoded" globally on Aug. 22. The first wave of screenings will take place in a handful of Western countries such as the United States, Canada and the Netherlands. 

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