Talking to Strangers

Robert Tregenza (Born November 14, 1950) is an American cinematographer and film director. Besides shooting his own projects, Tregenza has also worked as a director of photography with other directors, including Alex Cox (on Three Businessmen) and Béla Tarr (Werckmeister Harmonies).

He has produced, directed and photographed three feature films: “Talking to Strangers” (1987) Berlin Int. Film Fest, Edinburgh, Toronto, “The Arc” (1991) a co-production with Film Four International, Berlin, Edinburgh, Toronto, Chicago, and “Inside/Out” (1997) Cannes Un Certain Regard, Toronto, Rotterdam, Sundance.

Tregenza’s first feature, Talking to Strangers won him acclaim and the eye and praise of Jean Luc Godard who personally selected the film in 1996 to be showcased at the Toronto Film Festival. Tregenza’s third feature, Inside/Out, premiered at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section.

Tregenza’s work often employs the use of long takes to create mise en scene. His cinematic inspirations include the works of Michelangelo Antonioni, Yasujirō Ozu & Jean Luc Godard.

Tregenza is currently the Director of the Cinema Program at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond Virginia. In its 5th year, the VCU Cinema Program is a 3 year program that dually emphasizes theory and production in the fall and spring semesters and shoots 4-8 shorts a summer (ranging from 20-40 minutes) generally on 35 MM film with Arriflex film cameras. His lectures range from Mise-En Scene theory to the work of Giles Deleuze and “the fold”. He earned his PhD from UCLA in 1982. —Wikipedia