The Cinematography Podcast Episode 288: Josh Margolin and David Bolen
Thelma is a heartwarming and inspiring action comedy about Thelma Post, a 93-year-old woman who falls victim to a phone scam and loses $10,000. Determined to reclaim her money, Thelma embarks on a thrilling adventure with her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree) on his borrowed mobility scooter across Los Angeles. As Thelma, June Squibb captivates with her portrayal of a feisty and independent senior citizen out for justice and redemption. Thelma challenges ageist stereotypes and inspires viewers to realize that they can fight back against injustice at any age.
Director and writer Josh Margolin‘s masterful storytelling and keen eye for detail bring Thelma’s journey to life. He wrote the script from a place of love and admiration for his own grandmother, and enjoyed playing with action adventure elements. Josh admired cinematographer David Bolen‘s documentary film, Some Kind of Heaven, which used a natural and humanistic style. “In making this movie, it was so important to me to find a partner who saw Thelma the way I saw it and wanted to bring a filmic look to it, but also be able to have fun with it,” says Josh.
David found the script incredibly relatable, since he also has a special relationship with his grandmother. He knew exactly how he wanted to approach the visual language of Thelma. With a background in shooting documentaries, David wanted Thelma’s world to feel real, so that audiences would emphasize with her life. “Documentaries have really influenced how I film narrative work,” he says. “I think it’s important for things not to feel overly lit or over the top. I’m chasing that feeling of realism and that subjectivity that a documentary can bring.” David chose to shoot on the ARRI Alexa 35, which was brand new at the time. During preproduction, David found the camera responded well to natural street light and shooting in nighttime conditions, since a good part of the film takes place at night.
With only a 25 day shoot, Josh and David created an extremely detailed shotlist. Josh was very aware that working with older actors meant that the production needed to work within their capabilities. The production team kept everything intimate and small, and the set felt like a close-knit family. “The logistics of it were challenging on this film,” says Josh. “It was a quick schedule and you are with elderly actors. So, you know, as capable as June is, and as amazing as she is, you don’t want to do a bunch of takes on something.” He felt confident that they could adapt on the fly and adjust to practical realities of certain moments. “On the page, everything is one way, and then the second you’re doing it, things change,” says Josh. “I think doing a lot of homework and also being able to be nimble was really helpful for shooting an indie in L.A.”
Josh submitted the film to Sundance for 2024 consideration, Josh felt pessimistic about their chances. But not only did Thelma get into the festival, it was given a world premiere screening. Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures picked it up for distribution.
Find Josh Margolin: Instagram @jmargo999
Find David Bolen: Instagram @davidbolendp
Thelma is currently available for rent on Amazon, AppleTV, or other VOD services and will be streaming on Hulu.
Close Focus: The Camerimage Film Festival continues to draw controversy. Besides a divisive decision to host the world premiere of Rust, the festival has also been criticized for failing to represent women cinematographers. In August, a Change.org petition was signed by Women in Cinematography seeking more representation at Camerimage.
Ben’s short end: The social media app Bluesky is increasing in popularity. You can use Google’s Sky Follower Bridge app to find and follow your Twitter followers on Bluesky.
Illya’s short end: Fujifilm announced they are developing their first digital filmmaking camera, the Fujifilm GFX Eterna, featuring a large format sensor.
Sponsored by Hot Rod Cameras
Sponsored by Aputure: The Aputure MT Pro is a 1 ft mini full-color LED 36 pixel tube light. It has a built-in rechargeable battery, integrated magnets and wireless controls. You can buy the Aputure MT Pro at Hot Rod Cameras.
Sponsored by Greentree Creative: If you enjoy The Cinematography Podcast and you’re interested in growing or starting your own podcast, contact Alana Kode at Greentree Creative. Greentree Creative can help you with all of your digital marketing needs including podcast launch and creation, advertising, social media management and content creation.
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Producer: Alana Kode
Written by Alana Kode
Host and editor in Chief: Illya Friedman
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Host: Ben Rock
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Editor: Michael Dispenza
Composer: Kays Al-Atrakchi
